The Drape Queen

Dolly Jain, who has veritably elevated saree draping to an art, has brought smiles to many a celebrity and topnotch socialite with her refreshingly new and contemporary silhouettes. Meet the Kolkata housewife who has not only achieved the record-breaking feat of draping a saree in 325 ways, but also draping one in 18 ½ seconds flat!

- Joseph Rozario

SAREES AND INDIAN WOMEN ARE ALMOST inseparable. There are those who have worn nothing else but sarees from their teens, and then there are those whose wardrobes flaunt more sarees than there are days in a year. But when it comes to draping one, it’s almost always the same old style, the same old folds, pleats and tucks taught by mothers and elders ages ago. The innovation, the creativity and the artistry that can turn the good old six yards into a stunning ensemble is simply missing. No one will agree more with this than Dolly Jain, whose unusual talent for draping sarees in myriad ways has not only earned her awards and accolades galore, but also a clientele that comprises celebrities, top socialites and the who’s who of the saree-wearing world.

How it all began

“I never was fond of sarees, to be honest,” says Dolly Jain, who was born in Ranchi but grew up in Bangalore (now Bengaluru), her family being originally from Ladnun in Rajasthan. As fate would have it, she got married to a family in Kolkata, where she was allowed to only wear sarees. “I thought, ‘if I have to wear nothing but sarees, then let me learn to style them,’” continues Jain, talking about how it all began for her. And with that her experimentation with different styles and drapes started, until her creative side and innate talent began to show. She started to wear sarees in different drapes and styles and soon friends and neighbours began to take notice, loving and appreciating the way she carried the saree.