With just under two months remaining of Sari Stories, we’re delving into the exhibition and the moving stories so generously shared with Sampad. Today we look at themes of friendship and family, with joyous shared experiences alongside memories which hold mixed or difficult emotions.
For Arsheen, her sari image is a precious reminder of “almost two decades of friendship—from borrowing my first saree in the UK from my Tanzanian friend to attending this soulful Bollywood orchestra evening…we are connected by the six yards of grace that symbolise tradition, identity and culture.” Kirath shared with us memories of her Grandmother and how, wearing her sari, she could feel “her strength and resilience woven into every fold.”
“I unfold the long shimmery material and start wrapping it around her waist…My sister in law gazes in the mirror as I try to neaten her sari and perfect her look. She’s in absolute awe.” – Rumena Aktar
Family memories and the legacy felt over generations can be seen throughout the stories shared. India spoke of how she has always received saris passed down from her “grandmother, mother, aunties, and cousins. But this year my grandma travelled to India and returned with a sari made specifically for me. It reminds me of a photograph of my grandma standing in West Park wearing a sari like mine. Newly arrived, without friends or family, she had no idea what her life would become. Her resilience inspires me, and over 60 years, she built a family and home in Wolverhampton.”
“I am 81 years old. During my first visit to India after my marriage, I visited my sister in Chandigarh, and she gave me this as a wedding present.. It was always one of my favourites, having been given to me by someone who held a very special place in my heart.” – Bala Johnson
Sari Stories is free to view at MAC’s Community Gallery until Sunday 19th October 2025. Made possible by Arts Council England.
