He’s the top choice for Indian brides all over the world, but Sabyasachi Mukherjee recently made global headlines for the wrong reasons.
The celebrated designer, who has collaborated with Christian Louboutin, has been criticised for suggesting that Indian women who sideline the sari in favour of western clothes should feel 'shame'.
Responding to a question from students at the Harvard India Conference on the difficulties women encounter when draping the garment, Sabyasachi said: “I think, if you tell me that you do not know how to wear a saree, I would say shame on you. It’s a part of your culture, (you) need stand up for it.”
At the time his words triggered applause, but they have since enraged others for being seemingly old fashioned, misogynistic and conservative.
Image from Sabyasachi AW17 collection
In his defence, the Kolkata-based designer issued an ‘Open Letter’ via his Instagram apologising for using the word ‘shame’. He also pointed out that, having worked and celebrated the sari for a huge swathe of his career, he felt compelled to defend the iconic garment from negative connotations: “Sometimes, when you are that invested in your craft, you become hypersensitive to the negativity surrounding that which you love.”
He addressed the issue of body shaming which some feel the sari attracts: “On the topic of the sari, I ask you today: how many times have you or someone you know encountered this issue? "Body shaming, attaching connotations of ‘Auntie Ji’, calling them sloppy; these are all ways that some men and women alike belittle the sari (and, more accurately, the wearer of the sari).”
He also slammed suggestions of misoginism, noting that women comprise the majority of his company and are the top earners at Sabyasachi Couture: “Mine is a women-oriented brand and I owe my complete success to them. I have always, and will continue to love and respect women…”
Read the full letter here