Ancient India knew the secret to practical and spiritual fashion: fabric from the earth, dyed by wind and rain, embellished by and with awareness, chosen for the feel of sunshine or shade. As rituals, draping methods (like the sari, dhoti, uttariya and other forms of unstitched textiles worn as garments) prioritised comfort, seasonal needs, freedom of movement, and circular fashion. They made daily dressing an act of connection with nature and local artisanship. At our Online Talk #ReVastra, Bhawana Pingali, founder of a spiritual fashion platform, talks about bringing all that forgotten ritualistic ethos back—fashion as self-care, kindness to our bodies, and a handshake with the planet—and reviving these historic practices for modern living.

About the speaker:

Bhawana Pingali is a fashion writer and academic who has been engaged in the fields of fashion, design, and media for over two decades. She is the author of The Art of Decluttering: Ancient Practices for Modern Living (Penguin Random House & Ebury Press). With a background in fashion, design, and journalism, she served as Fashion Features Editor at Femina (Times Group) and has written for The Hindu, Mint Lounge, and more. She has taught at top institutions like NIFT Mumbai, Pearl Academy, and Symbiosis, and consulted for over 15 organisations and lifestyle brands. Currently, she focuses on yoga-pranayama, writing, sketching, and reviving traditional practices through her spiritual fashion platform, Revastra.