Journal

Notes from the studio

Short reads on caring for silk, planning an arangetram and understanding what makes a costume dance with you.

How to store a silk costume between seasons

Fold along the zari, never against it. Wrap in unbleached cotton, keep away from naphthalene, and air it every few months.

Fabric selection at month nine, first fitting at month six, jewellery trials at month three, final alteration two weeks before the stage.

Bharatanatyam demands a crisp fan for araimandi, Kuchipudi favours flow, Odissi asks for a softer drape. The pleat count changes accordingly.