Learning event Free Drop-in
South Asian Heritage Month: Free Sari Draping Session
Celebrate South Asian Heritage Month at the museum with a joyful session exploring the cultural significance of saris and discovering some of the many ways to drape them.
What to expect
In celebration of South Asian Heritage Month, this free drop-in event is dedicated to the cultural significance of saris.
Continuing the legacy of The Offbeat Sari – our major exhibition celebrating the contemporary sari, on show at the museum in 2023 and now on display at Bunjil Place in Australia until August, facilitator Nidhi Uppal will take us on a journey of storytelling, cultural exploration, and hands-on practice in this interactive workshop, inviting participants to discover the sari as both a garment and a powerful expression of identity.
Take part to learn how saris shape personal, cultural, and collective identities across generations and communities, and gain insights into the garment’s enduring significance in everyday life, celebration, migration, and self-expression.
Enjoy a practical draping demonstration and learn some of the many ways a sari can be worn. Whether you are encountering the sari for the first time or reconnecting with a familiar tradition, this event will offer a welcoming space for learning, conversations, and creativity.
SCHEDULE
10:30 Session 1
12:00 Session 2
13:30 Break
14:00 Session 3
15:30 Session 4
PLEASE NOTE:
This workshop will take place in the museum's Atrium Mezzanine, level G, by the main staircase.
This is a drop-in activity. Free slots will be available throughout the day, and no pre-booking is required. Each slot can accommodate 15 people and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please ask a member of staff for help if you need, so they can direct you to join the event.
Attendees are welcome to bring their own garments, but this is not essential, and all are welcome to take part.
The Offbeat Sari exhibition at the Design Museum. Photo Andy Stagg
The Offbeat Sari exhibition at the Design Museum. Photo Andy Stagg
The Offbeat Sari exhibition at the Design Museum. Photo Andy Stagg
Facilitator
Nidhi Uppal
Nidhi is a London-born sari stylist and experimental draper who transforms this unstitched garment into a canvas for modern storytelling. Blending a background in Science research with her Punjabi heritage, Nidhi treats fabric as a versatile sculpture. Known as a 'sari alchemist,' her avant-garde styling has been featured on red carpets, film, exhibitions, and TV. Her community workshops promote inclusivity, sustainability, and playful, gender-fluid experimentation, celebrating the evolution of this textile art. @Nidhi Uppal
Booking information
Entry: Free
No pre-booking is required.
Assistance dogs are welcome and must be kept on a harness or lead
This event will take place in the museum's Atrium, level G. Free slots will be available throughout the day, and no pre-booking is required. Simply turn up and speak to a member of staff to join.
Suitable age:18+
Discover more
Background image: Matthew Kaltenborn; Nidhi Uppal's portrait by Jim Hoe.