My New Best Friend - The Sari Saheli

If you have every worn a sari, you know how much of a pain it is to get dressed for an Indian event, most of the time you are already running late, and then you have to deal with wearing a sari...making the pleats, pinning it up so it doesn't fall apart...and if you are like me, the first time you wear the sari isn't always the best so you end up doing it again. 

Ladies, I have found a tool that has been saving me so much time in the past couple months, and after properly using it a few times now, I can honestly say I am so happy to have it! What is this amazing tool? The Sari Saheli!!

Basically this is a sari pleat maker that helps make sari pleats easy and perfectly sized. The set I got comes with the pleatmaker and 2 magnetic clips that help in the pleat-holding process. 

These clips seem like a gimmic, but I have found them to be really helpful while putting the sari on. The Sari Saheli site recommends using them instead of safety pins. However, I think they look tacky. Personally, I use the clips to hold the pleats in place until I can reach for a safety pin and pin the pleats together. 

Source: Sari Saheli website

So how do you use the Sari Saheli? Basically, when making pleats, you tuck in the Sari Saheli at your waist, and then use the clips on the Sari Saheli to hold each pleat as you make it. 

Source: Sari Saheli website

Ok, so I know that sounds kind of confusing, so here is a video that shows you how to do the front pleats on the "skirt" of the sari...these are the pleats that give you room to walk when wearing a sari. This video is in Hindi, but if you don't understand Hindi, this video is still helpful because vieweing the Sari Saheli in action gives a good idea of how to make the front pleats.

Source: Sari Saheli website

This next video shows you how to wear the traditional sari, and uses the Sari Saheli to make both the front pleats as well as the paloo pleats, where the sari paloo is pleated over the left shoulder: 

Source: Sari Saheli website

The Sari Saheli box also incudes a pictoral guide in the box, but honestly, I think the videos on the Sari Saheli website are better. 

So overall, it takes a few tries to get the hang of using this. I don't recommend using it for the first time when you are getting ready to go somewhere. Practice with it a few times at home so you feel comfortable using it. That time spent practicing is well worth it because when you do have to get ready for an event, making the pleats will be much faster and easier than doing it without the Sari Saheli. 

Also, I recommend this for gals who are new to wearing a sari. If you have been wearing a sari for many many years, you are probably so used to making pleats on your own that you might get frustrated using this, so I don't think this is meant for you. 

Oh and one more thing, I was so happy to have the Sari Saheli in my life that Sari Saheli offered to give you, my wonderful Kajal Couture readers, a 10% discount on the Sari Saheli when you purchase online! All you have to do is enter the code "KAJAL" in the discount code box during checkout. Oh, Sari Saheli does ship worldwide so don't think this is something for those in the US only.

Please note that I am not trying to sell this to you, but I genuinely think the Sari Saheli has helped improve my sari-wearing process. That is why I was so excited to tell you about this, and as you all know, when you find something you love, you want to tell everyone about it! =)