I am fascinated by draping... luckily I found this article.
draping is, for the West, part of a historical heritage, draped clothes are still worn daily by millions of people all around the world. For Peul, Indian, Yemeni, Malaysian, Sri Lankan, Polynesian, Somali people, among others, they express identity, social recognition…and sometimes, personal mood. Their colour, shape, fabric ornamentation, and details codify them, giving clues about ethnic origin, marital status or religion. These garments are usually long strips of un stitched cloth wrapped around the body (Indian sari, African Kanga or Kitenge) or worn as a kilt by men and skirt by women (Indian Dhoti or Indonesian Sarong).
Behind each draped garment, there are numerous cultural and economic activities: fibres are cultivated, sheep and silk worms are bred, and the raw material is processed according to various traditional weaving, dyeing, beading, knitting and pleating techniques, knowing that the simpler the shape, the richer the embellishment.
Antique, Art Deco and Ethnic: these three versions persist and are convincingly interpreted this season (Spring/Summer 2010) by designers like Alber Elbaz for Lanvin, Haider Ackermann or Dries Van Noten, proving that an age-old art can be re-explored infinitely.
Louise Kissa
