Himanshu Verma, aka the Sari Man of India, shares with Society his eternal love for the garment
Just like some other boys who sometimes played with their mothers’ saris in their childhood days, 35-year-old Himanshu Verma too played with them when young, but he never knew his interest would take such a form that he would be called The Sari Man of India. He loves to drape one and poses questions about the notion that sari is only a feminine attire. Based in New Delhi, Himanshu is a graduate in English Literature but has informally studied Indian aesthetics, which basically formed the basis of a lot of his works as they are all centered on the subject. He runs Red Earth, curates art (photographs, textiles, music and of course, saris), puts together The Sari Festival every year, is a celebrator of Indian culture and has a lot to talk about his love saris.
Tell us briefly about your organization, Red Earth?
Set up in 2004 right after my graduation, Red Earth is an independent private arts organization. Through this multi-disciplinary firm, we engage with diverse forms of cultural expression, from Indian contemporary art (with a strong focus on painting and supporting the work of emerging artists who negotiate multiple formal spaces) to design, performing arts, educational programmes and experiential tourism; in the process devising varied and eclectic programming, festivals, exhibitions, projects and events. In a word, we create arts experiences. The idea is to celebrate culture in India in all its varied manifestations, in an unlimited way. I started organizing events soon after setting up the firm which grew very organically. Ever since then, I have been exploring different kinds of projects.
Your interest in saris, how did that generate?
This story is from the July 2016 edition of SOCIETY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2016 edition of SOCIETY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla: It's Milestone After Milestone
Couturies Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, who have recently launched their affordable diffusion label ASAL (which means 'genuine' in Urdu), share their journey with us, even as we admire their ever-lasting camaraderie...
“Politics is Serious Business” –Akhilesh Yadav" “I am a Politician in the Making” –Dimple Yadav
They may have lost the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh by a huge margin. But, they stood out as a team—both parallel and diverse—for their unique campaigning style. Power couple, Akhilesh and Dimple Yadav, get into a candid conversation with Ankita Rathod on their journey so far, the much talked about family feud and what went wrong for them in the 2017 assembly elections. Don’t miss the exclusive pictures too…
Asha Bhosle: I Have Always Been A Rebel
As the legendary singer Asha Bhosle gets ready for her final concert in London in September, here’s a heartwarming and emotionally charged conversation with the diva herself
Naaz Joshi: India's First Transgender Cover Girl
Naaz Jo shi shares with society how she fought the battle of being a transgender prostitute and becoming a leading name in the fashion industry
The World of a Wizard
Whiz kid Madhan Karky is all about inventions, be it dishing up a new language, or writing dialogues and lyrics like you have never heard them before
Man in a Sari
Himanshu Verma, aka the Sari Man of India, shares with Society his eternal love for the garment
Rakesh & Hrithik Roshan A Winning Combination
An intimate chat with father and son Rakesh and Hrithik Roshan, as they go down memory lane and tell us why they are the way they are—unbeatable.
The Son Rises
Former cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin’s son, Asaduddin, has set his eyes on the silver screen, with a Telugu film already in his kitty
Fashionable of All Things
Market influencers, stylists, brand consultants and visual merchandisers with very big dreams. Meet the beautiful and enchanting duo, Mitali Sagar and Summiyya Patni, both 27, from the House of MISU (MI-Mitali and SU-Summiyya)—a fashion consultancy company started by them in Mumbai. They have recently done the Summer Bride and RTW styling day at fashion designer Gaurav Gupta’s store, and have worked with international fashion labels like Estée Lauder, Juicy Couture, Le Mill, Christopher Kane, Celine, and the list goes on…
Narendra Modi - Lotus in the Mire
“I have always been CM, I am CM today and shall be CM forever. For me, CM means not Chief Minister but Common Man.” These were the words spoken by the current Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. While a lot has changed since then, he seems to continue to appeal to the ‘CM’ even today. Here’s a glimpse into the rare and no-holds-barred interview that appeared in the September 2011 issue of Society magazine
