Exploring identity through saree draping at RSA House

Spend an evening with RSA fellow Poppy at our 1st SareeNaSorry Funshop in London!

This Funshop is first and foremost designed for you to have fun! We'll have over 20 preloved sarees in different colours and materials for you to drape.

Poppy Jaman, a saree collector and enthusiast and a global mental health expert, will facilitate the Funshop with insight into the history, social context and her own journey with the saree.

The saree is the most inclusive item of clothing in the world, it is versatile and fits every ‘body’! It's 5 to 9 metres of unstitched material which can be draped in more than 200 ways to fit any size, shape and gender.

Steeped in South Asian history, power and identity, there is a weave, pattern, colour and style for every personality. The Saree is worn by people working in agriculture, art, construction, politics and at home.

The Western world has categorised the saree as a ‘traditional’ costume, yet it's the daily wear of millions of people all over the world, it's normal, colourful, dynamic, deeply feminine and a lot of fun.

From research we have found that the pandemic and identity politics are creating fear and disconnect. The project aims to reconnect people through the saree, a new lens which cultivates unity across cultural boundaries.

The Funshops are safe spaces designed explore identity, belonging and wellbeing through the art of drapery. They are designed to facilitate conversations through fun, glamour and discussion. It is open to all and especially encouraging people identifying as female and LGBTQI+.

During SareeNaSorry we encourage people to unapologetically play with their vanity, a fundamental part of developing positive self-esteem. We know peer support is amongst the top protective factors for good health, so the overall goal is to create a community experience through the love of sarees and draping-up.

What to expect at the Funshop:

· Learn to drape

· A discussion on the social stories behind the saree from Poppy

· Photoshoot by a professional photographer (for your personal use).

· Re-group and close

To participate in the event, you will need to register for a ticket so we can make sure we have an up-to-date list of those who plan on attending. If you wish to register another attendee, this must be done separately using a different email address. This is for capacity purposes. We encourage all attendees that are ill or showing symptoms of illness to stay home and to cancel your Eventbrite ticket if you are no longer able to join the event.

At the RSA, we strive to create inclusive and supportive environments for all Fellows. We recognise that individuals may require different forms of support to fully participate in our events and activities. Therefore, we welcome and encourage Fellows to bring the support they feel is necessary, whether it be a carer, an emotional support animal, or any other form of assistance. We ask that you email networks@rsa.org.uk in advance of attending one of our events to confirm your requirements to ensure that the venues can accommodate such requirements. Our aim is to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and valued, and we are committed to accommodating diverse needs to foster an inclusive community.

Data: By registering for this event, you consent to receiving communications about this event, both before and after, and you agree to the sharing of your name, organisation & title with the Fellow(s) and/or partner organisation(s) hosting this event. Attendees also agree to the sharing of their name and organisation with other delegates at the event so that they might contact you through MyRSA. If you do not wish this information to be shared, please let us know by emailing: [email protected]. The information you provide when registering for an event will be retained by the RSA and will be used to record attendance at the event. To understand more about how the RSA uses your data, please see our Privacy Policy.

Please be aware that registrations will close two hours before the event is due to start.

Host or Publisher RSA Fellowship