Mehala Ford's Modern Sari Story : From Concept to Culture

This episode features a joyful chat with Mehala Ford, Fashion PR, Curator and founder of concept store "Friday Sari Project" (FSP), exploring her innovative approaches to modern sari styling.

Mehala was born in Sri Lanka and raised in the UK. She is a creative entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the fashion industry and worked with notable designers like Alexander McQueen, Preen and emerging young designers in the late 90’s.  She teaches and champions modern sari drapes and styling to encourage the continuity of sari wearing. She has founded several creative platforms, notably FSP and she is also the creator of CommonGround&, an arts platform for South Asian creatives and has curated several cultural programmes for Royal Museums Greenwich.

Mehala discusses her transition from UK fashion retail to reconnecting with her heritage through the FSP. The project modernises traditional sari draping to resonate with contemporary fashion audiences and raises cultural awareness. We delve into the sari's historical roots, its adaptability, and the British influence on its styling.

Mehala shares her love affair with Sari draping and South Asian creativity and tradition, ultimately bringing attention to the vibrant artistic and cultural landscape of Sri Lanka.

Summary

Introduction to the Podcast
Meet This Week's Guest: Mehala Ford
Mehala's Background and Fashion Journey
Growing Up Sri Lankan in the UK
Breaking into the Creative Industry
The Influence of Family and the 80s
Discovering the Sari
The Friday Sari Project
The Versatility of Sari Drapes
Global Connections in Draping Styles
Modern Relevance of Draping
Draping Workshops and Cultural Exchange
Heritage and Personal Stories
The Friday Sari Project
Curating South Asian Heritage
Exploring Sri Lankan Creativity
Future Plans and Upcoming Events

https://www.fridaysariproject.co.uk

Dee Gibson is the award winning designer and founder of boutique hotel Kalukanda House in Sri Lanka, www.kalukandahouse.com ~ Conde Nast Best Places to Visit in Asia 2024 & HIP Hotels Best Hotels 2025. You can follow on
instagram @deegibson2017 or @kalukandahouse

This podcast lifts the veil on what, and more importantly WHO this island is with conversations about all the things you never read about in the travel pages. Dee showcases a fascinating modern society reclaiming their identity and taking ownership of their narratives on the global stage. No subject is taboo so expect guests talking about everything from activism through art and yoga, why sari was modified by British colonisers, a performance on love and lust to episodes on forgotten heroines being narrated back into our history books and much more.