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  Delicate beading and 3D floral embroidery embellish Manav Gangwani's pre-stitched saris

Designers Shivan and Narresh created quite a stir at the recent Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai. For, they had models walking the catwalk in saris that stood the concept of six yards of sex-appeal on its head!

In colour-blocked neon hues, the saris were ready-to-slip-into (just like skirts) with discreet zippers tucked away on the side. The pleats were gathered and pre-stitched, spacious pockets (perhaps for mobile phones) had been added as a surprise element while sash-like pallus slashed sexily across midriffs and over shoulders. Out with frumpy, drawstring-ed petticoats and broad sari falls.

As the sari reinvents, it gets more convenient — and idiot-proof — in terms of wearing it as it's pre-constructed and ready to slip into like a dress or skirt! It's chic and clingy and has never draped better.

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  Shivan and Narresh's pre-stitched resort sari in colour-blocked neon hues is structured around pants

Designers re-jigging the six-yard sari have come up trumps. Designer stores are now a treasure trove of toga saris, saris that flare like lehengas and others that mimic fishtail gowns. They could be one-piece or three-piece, could well be all of the mandatory six yards or may not be that length at all. And adding to the sari's infinite variety are the stylised blouses which could take the form of bustiers, T-shirts or even kaftans!

The king of drape, designer Tarun Tahiliani, has created a complete line of pre-constructed saris. Pre-draped with just a zip that runs on the side, the saris are comfortable and have a slimming effect. 'They are as easy to wear as gowns,' he says. Tahiliani's Kumbh Mela-inspired Kumbhack collection has pre-stitched saris in chiffons with pre-arranged drapes.

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  Gaurav Gupta's ash pink sari with shimmer has been pre-draped and styled to resemble a toga

Bollywood couturier Manav Gangwani too is rooting for the pre-stitched sari. Styled in georgette, satin, lace and tulle — fabrics that drape well — his saris are styled like skirts with separate blouses and detached pallus. So, if you're daring, simply wear the pallu like a dupatta. Teamed with skimpy Swarovski encrusted blouses, the heavily embellished saris (mostly in black and white) have delicate beading and intricate 3-D floral motif embroidery.

But for those who aren't sold on the skirt look, Anand Kabra has given volume to the sari by pairing it with voluminous tulle underskirts. Kabra says: 'Younger women find the sari cumbersome to wear and feel that six-yards makes it too voluminous.' But while tweaking the sari, he adds, designers must be cautious as they mustn't lose the essence of the sari. 'If we reduce the drape too much, there's a chance that the sari will end up looking like a maxi dress,' he says. To make his saris more sensuous, Kabra has given them voluminous underskirts, which make them flare at the ankles.

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  Tarun Tahiliani pairs his copper silk chiffon concept sari in animal print with a corset instead of a traditional blouse

Bollywood's favourite couturier Neeta Lulla admits that she was inspired to create her version of the ready-to-wear sari by English fashion designer Zandra Rhodes. 'Rhodes always reinterpreted the sari in her designs and I think I was always inspired by her work,' she says.

Lulla's pre-stitched Lycra saris hug the body closely. Her line also includes chiffon, georgette and nets embellished with thread and pearl embroidery in tones of gold and touches of crystal. The saris have zips that are tucked away on the sides so that they can be slipped on like dresses.

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  Neeta Lulla's black-and-gold ready-to-wear sari can be slipped on like a skirt while the traditional pallu has been given a miss

Designers Shivan and Narresh feel that it's the globalisation of Indian fashion that's making the pre-stitched sari popular. 'The Indian runway is evolving,' says Shivan. The duo makes stitched saris in Lycra that can be slipped on while the chiffon saris come with linings that eliminate the need for petticoats.

Gaurav Gupta calls his pre-stitched creations sari gowns and these have been styled like togas with the drape gathering at the left shoulder. He says: 'My pre-stitched saris have the hint of traditional saris.' So, they are one-piece and have short bejewelled pallus or pallus that just end at the shoulder.

His colour palette includes bronze, beige and nude tones with the zippers tucked on the left. The intricately pleated pallus — that are fused into the toga structure — are finely detailed with beads and metal chains.

When buying a ready-to-wear sari, Gupta also sounds in a word of caution: 'A sari like this shouldn't be over-layered or too intricate,' he says. So, next time you decide to wear a sari, how about getting one that you can simply slip into.