The Offbeat Sari: Celebrating Contemporary Indian Fashion
Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) proudly presents The Offbeat Sari, a major exhibition from the Design Museum, London, running from Saturday 28 June to Sunday 2 November. This groundbreaking show marks the UK's first large-scale exhibition to examine one of the world's most recognisable garments in its 21st century context, as it experiences the "most rapid reinvention in its 5,000-year history."
Norblack Norwhite. Photo by Bikramjit Bose.
The exhibition brings together around 60 examples of trailblazing saris from the past decade, showcasing how designers, wearers and craftspeople are reshaping the ways in which the sari is understood, designed, made and worn in contemporary urban India. Visitors can explore three distinct sections: Transformations, which highlights boundary-pushing designers; Identity and Resistance, examining the sari as a powerful means of self-expression; and New Materialities, focusing on innovative textile techniques.
Lady Gaga Wearing the Tarun Tahiliani Concept Sari in Foil jersey, 2010
Exhibition highlights include a replica of Tarun Tahiliani's foil jersey sari created for Lady Gaga (2010), alongside works by cutting-edge designers like Abraham & Thakore, Raw Mango, and Akaaro. The display features saris made from unexpected materials such as woven steel and distressed denim, demonstrating how young women in urban India are embracing this ancient garment anew.
"The sari holds deep personal and cultural resonance, but it's also a living canvas for imagination, reflecting the energy and plurality at the heart of South Asian culture," says lead curator Priya Khanchandani.
MAC CEO Deborah Kermode adds: "You don't have to be a fashion connoisseur to enjoy it - there is something for everyone, with contemporary saris from the worlds of fashion, performance, sport and political protest on display."
Poppy Jaman runs the Brighton Marathon in a Bangladeshi Handloom Saree. Part of Sari Stories at the MAC.
MAC's presentation offers exciting new additions to the original Design Museum exhibition. The complementary Sari Stories exhibition (24 May - 19 October) weaves together real-life sari stories from across the Midlands, featuring everything from saris worn by mountain climbers and marathon runners to expressions of queer identity. Created in partnership with Sampad South Asian Arts and Heritage, this community-driven exhibition celebrates the personal narratives behind the garments.
Harpz Kaur wearing Jashaan Gill, 2025. Photograph by Gurpreet Kaur. Courtesy of Midlands Arts Centre. Credit Tegen Kimbley.
Birmingham designer Jashaan Gill, and founder of urban Fashion brand Jheez, has been commissioned to create a new fashion piece inspired by the sari, blending his Punjabi heritage with contemporary streetwear. Using denim and fabric from his mother's wedding outfit, Gill explains: "It's a privilege to reimagine traditional materials for contemporary wear, making them desirable not only within my community but to a wider audience."
A curator's talk with Priya Khanchandani on 27 September will also offer deeper insights into the exhibition's themes, alongside many other events as part of Sari Summer Season at the Mac.
The main exhibition runs daily from 11am-5pm with free entry and donations welcome.
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Further Information:
MAC Birmingham Sari Summer Season
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Image Credits:
Lead Image: Raw Mango. Photo by Shubham Lodha.
All other images as credited in photo captions.