Oprah to don green Sabyasachi sari in Jaipur

Jaipur - An apple green sari with an embroidered black choli is what celebrity talk show host Oprah Winfrey will wear to a dinner at the City Palace as part of the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival. And none other than Sabyasachi Mukherjee has designed it for her.

"I am making her wear a sari because Oprah wanted to wear something Indian and special. She loves apple green. We have designed an apple green sari and black blouse (choli) with embroidery," Mukherjee told IANS at the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Mukherjee said he chose "traditional Indian embroidery and textiles for Oprah’s attire because both were becoming a little obsolete now”.

The sari has been designed in green silk net while the “choli is in cotton textured khadi” to match the understated opulence of the sari, Mukherjee said.

Oprah, who is in the country to shoot India-specific episodes for her show, will be in conversation with television anchor Barkha Dutt at the literature festival Jan 22.

Describing the weave and embellishments on Oprah’s sari, Mukherjee said, “The fabric was embroidered with simple needlecraft and sported a small zardosi handbag as a matching accessory.”

Mukherjee said Oprah had “bought a lot of stuff from my store, Sabyasachi by Sabyasachi”.

“She picked embroidered bangles, khadi jaamdani, velvet zardosi dress for her god child, an anarkali silk day dress with leggings and scarves...She was my first bona fide customer,” the designer said.

Mukherjee, known for reviving several old textiles and embroidery craft, combines funk and period sensibilities in his creations to capture the Indian fashion ethos.

“Westerners look for authenticity when they shop for clothes in India and for products that fit into their lifestyle,” Mukherjee said. “Oprah has taken to our crafts,” Mukherjee said.

The designer said “I try not to go over the top when I design Western wear”.

“The flavour remains Indian and the styling international,” Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee is working on khadi at the moment. “Khadi is a very sophisticated textile,” the designer said.