NAMASKARAM
# १
एकम् / ekam / one / 1
We know the cosmos, its bodies and forces help us function with rhythm, balance and fragility. We bow to that power. But some days we forget that our actions are interconnected on a macro ecological and social plane. Like our global sari system — a singular, magical organism — that is currently maximising with beautiful abandon, but sometimes with minimum responsibility. And our individual sari wardrobes are doing the same, too. So, let us pause and slow down our buying. It will help reduce extreme consumption of raw textiles, and restore natural cycles and systems.
LET US REAFFIRM COLLECTIVELY TO SLOW DOWN OUR SARI CONSUMPTION.
# २
द्वे / dve / two / 2
We live in symbiotic and orbital eco-pods every way, every day. Think our spirits, minds, bodies, homes, societies, geographies, countries, continents and the Earth. And our lifestyles and fashions — radial and convergent — are extensions of these pods. But of late unknowingly, we have latched on the extensions than the pods themselves. As a result, we feel rootless and live with diluted identities without ‘homing’. So, let us realign to find a fiercely-creative thought leadership, group or system (say a tribe, cult, clan, brand, label or firm) that motivates and defines us as creatures of the Earth.
LET US RECONNECT WITH OTHER FIERCELY-CREATIVE ECO-SYSTEMS AND SOULS.
# ३
त्रीणि / trīṇi / three / 3
The world has been raving wildly about the 3Rs (REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE) for a while now. We love people, products and processes that feverishly promote this thought. But we sometimes forget to apply this dictum to our sari wardrobes. So, let us count our unused or underused saris. Then separate them into three piles — REDUCE (donate), REUSE (restyle) and RECYCLE (upcycle). Start by finding the right people and places to give out our loved saris generously. It will help clear some physical and emotional clutter we live with in the name of tradition, love or fashion.
LET US REDUCE OUR SARIS TO ENSURE ‘GIVE MORE TO GET LESS’ WARDROBES.
# ४
चत्वारि / catvāri / four / 4
We are a concoction of geographies, economies, languages, cultures or traditions. We mix East with the West; travel across States; speak a multitude of ‘pidgins’; and make friends across virtual and real boundaries. This redefines our sari wardrobes too. We mix-and-match radical pieces with our saris — think shirts, boots, corsets, pants, matching accessories and what have you. But how about restyling first with nostalgia instead? Before you buy sari accompaniments (sub-clothes and accessories), restyle saris using things from your lineage, past and heritage to build new stories that are sans fads.
LET US REUSE OUR LOVED SARIS FIRST WITH NOSTALGIA TO BUILD NEW STORIES.
# ५
पञ्च / pañca / five / 5
We have redefined the word ‘beauty’ thanks to the evolution of collective consciousness and common spiritual bent of mind (e.g. ‘Dark is beautiful / ‘Thin or fat doesn’t matter’). We are now a part of this phenomenon and thinking. But getting this into our sari wardrobes has been tough. More so given how symmetrical and perfect saris are. Our minds love only regularity and finesse. Now let us go beyond social norms to relove our neglected, “not beautiful”, torn, aged, or fatigued saris, too. It will help us apply Zen and Vedic aesthetic of irregular and fault-loving beauty and design to saris.
LET US REVISIT VEDIC AND ZEN AESTHETICS OF IMPERFECT LIFE AND DESIGN.
DHANYAVADAM
Continued in #rephilosophy Part 2…