Dolly Jain, a homemaker who turned draping sarees into a profession, is a trendsetter and trailblazer in the world of artistry and fashion. Through her work, she has broken stereotypes and inspired women to pursue their dreams.
While many Indian women are pro at draping a saree, how often do they consider transforming this skill into a profession? Well, today we will talk about one such woman who became a successful saree draper that too an extremely expensive one. Dolly Jain, who has set the record as the fastest saree draper in the Book of World Records 2011 is a trendsetter and an inspiration to many.
From Bollywood celebrities to high-profile socialites, everyone wants to experience the magic of Dolly’s expert draping techniques. She reportedly holds a record of knowing how to drape a saree in 357 different styles. From Hyderabadi to Gujarati, Rajasthani to Assamese, she has indeed mastered the style of draping saree and dupattas in different ways.
Let’s delve into her journey and discover when her fascination with unique art grew professionally.
Meet Dolly Jain, The Saree Draping Maestro
Dolly Jain was born and bought in Bengaluru and was fascinated by the elegance and grace of her mother’s sarees. However, it was only after her marriage and relocation to Kolkata that developed her interest in draping sarees. She was only allowed to wear sarees after her marriage and then she learned different ways to drape them. Eventually, everybody around her loved the way she carried the saree and then when she realised to turn her art into a profession.
Dolly’s father supported her passion the most when her other friends and family members didn’t. She approached Limca Records but they did not take her seriously. In an interview, she revealed, “I sent them a CD, they came to Kolkata and I received my first certificate from Limca Records.” Dolly also became the became the fastest saree draper (18.5 seconds) in 2011.
Dolly Jain’s Celebrity Clients And How Much She Charges
Dolly Jain learned a variety of draping techniques and taught them to other women. Designer Sandeep Khosla recommended her to celebrities and currently her client history includes Isha Ambani, Nita Ambani, Shloka Ambani, Radhika Merchant, Sonam Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Late Jayalalithaa, Natasha Poonawala, late Sridevi and among others.
From Alia Bhatt’s saree, she wore when receiving the National Award, to Nita Ambani’s elegantly draped saree at the pre-wedding festivities of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, Dolly Jain’s draping technique has left an indelible mark on the fashion world. As per multiple reports, Dolly charges anywhere between Rs 35,000 to Rs 2 lakh per saree.