Chennai Fashion Collection

In attendance has been over the past two years, a theatrical change in the clothing habits of the archetypal straight Chennai is. Where formerly all festival demanded a new sari and blouse for the women, today’s option is for the ever-present salwar - kameez or even the adaptable jeans. Present is, however, incredible charmingly tempting about the south Indian woman who knuckles down to the rites of tradition. Freshly, suffused at dawn, with the delicate perfume of sandalwood paste and jasmine

persistent on her skin, she knots a towel around her head to support her wet hair and dons the new clothes before puja commences. After she rubs down her extended tresses, she prepares a grid of hot coal over which she sprinkles sambrani ( license ). She covers it with a tiny basket, lies down on the floor with her head on it, spreading her hair over the basket, so that the saccharine fumes permeate through her hair, softly drying it as no current hair dryer ever will. It is a moment arrested in uncontaminated luxury as she closes her eyes to relax before the flurry takes over.

Smelling even additional sweetly, she ties her hair keen on a movable knot to commence the whirlpool of rituals which are in effect common events for the family and community.