Sabyasachi Mukherjee writes open letter, says sorry for sari remark

Known for creating exquisite garments which the country completely adores, Sabyasachi Mukherjee is perhaps one of the most sought-after designers in the country today.

The designer has been receiving a lot of flak the past few days because of a statement he made at a conference in Harvard. The designer had said that it's a matter of shame if women don't know how to drape a sari while addressing students gathered at Harvard India Conference.

His statement received a lot of criticism and the many on social media called out the designer for being a misogynist.

The designer, on Tuesday in an interview to a news agency had clarified that his statement was misplaced and that he believed what women wear is truly their prerogative.

On Wednesday, Mukherjee wrote an open letter apologising for making such a statement and even gave a context to the conversation that had taken place at the conference.

"To begin, allow me to sincerely apologise for the words that I used while answering impromptu questions at a conference at Harvard. I am sorry that I used the word ‘shame’ in reference to some women’s inability to wear a sari. I truly regret that the way in which I tried to make a point about the sari enabled it to be interpreted as misogynistic, patriarchal, and non-inclusive – this was certainly not my intention," the designer wrote.

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Mukherjee then explained that a woman in the audience had asked him to 'comment on the cultural taboo of young women wearing saris because, as she said, society tells them that it ‘makes them look older’. Mukherjee said it was a question that he has been asked on several occasions before.

"Another question of ageism and the sari at Harvard triggered a lot of pent-up frustration that I have accrued for that segment of our society which constantly expresses disdain for this piece of Indian heritage. It is this frustration that I unfortunately generalised to Indian women in response to the question, when I now see that I should have framed it as a call to stop shaming the sari and whomever chooses to wear it. I am passionate about textiles and our heritage, and I am sorry that in the heat of that moment, I allowed this passion to be misplaced. I take full responsibility for this," the letter read.

The designer also shed light on all the stereotypes surrounding women who wear saris. "Body shaming, attaching connotations of ‘Auntie Ji’, calling them sloppy; these are all ways that some men and women alike belittle the sari (and, more accurately, the wearer of the sari). These comments are laced with sarcasm and connotations of cultural repression and backwardness."

Mukherjee also took the opportunity to address the ongoing debate on pay gap and mentioned that most of his staff are women and that they have all got the jobs purely on merit. "Mine is a women-oriented brand and I owe my complete success to them. I have always, and will continue to love and respect women irrespective of the labels recently assigned to me."