The Offbeat Sari: Gaga’s Foil Glam & Deepika’s Cannes Ruffles Drape Down Under

Drape the drama and fix the pallu 'cause the world’s most-worn garment just got its wildest reinvention yet. The Offbeat Sari, a landmark from London’s Design Museum, makes its Australian debut at Bunjil Place Gallery on Saturday 21 March 2026—free entry, running through August 2026.

Curator Priya Khanchandani spotlights the sari’s explosive 5,000-year evolution, pulling together 54 groundbreaking pieces from India’s visionaries: Abraham & Thakore, Raw Mango, Akaaro and NorBlackNorWhite at the forefront, plus HUEMN’s denim dare, Diksha Khanna’s X-ray sequin shimmer and Bodice’s ultra-fine stainless-steel waves.

Couture kings get to shine too—Tarun Tahiliani’s foil jersey (echoing Lady Gaga’s 2010 slay), Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla’s ruffled Cannes gown worn by actress Deepika Padukone (2022), alongside Sabyasachi and Anamika Khanna’s extravagant flair, resham threads popping in colourful palettes. And for those who know, these are some of the biggest names in Indian fashion. It’s celebrity glam mixed with street protest, all redefining identity in urban India.

Image Credit: The Offbeat Sari | Supplied

Three Ways the Sari’s Breaking All the Rules

• Transformations: Bold experiments like sculptural art-pieces and videos decoding diverse draping traditions from India’s cities.
• Identity & Resistance: Saris as weapons—worn by activists, artists and diaspora voices challenging norms on gender, body and protest fronts.
• New Materialities: Textile wizardry blending ancient crafts with futuristic fabrics, proving the sari’s endless edge.

Exhibition designer Studio Peter King (Pharaoh at NGV 2024, Floribunda at Bunjil 2025) has adapted it flawlessly for Melbourne’s south-east, home to one of the city’s largest South Asian communities.

City of Casey Mayor Stefan Koomen beams: “This vibrant showcase will resonate deeply—accessible to all.” Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun adds Sydney for its later run (7 November 2026–4 April 2027). Design Museum CEO Tim Marlow: “A captivating cultural phenomenon re-energised.”

Khanchandani sums the fire: “Its reinvention is cultural, political, emotional—a catalyst for new futures.”

Events to Attend

Curator talk with Priya Khanchandani: Sunday 22 March (opens 4.30pm).

Elsewhere in India by electronica pioneers Murthovic & Thiruda (Saturday 28 March) features films, games, sculpture colliding heritage and tech.

This is the versatile sari swaggering into 2026—defiant, dazzling and draped for Melbourne. Your wardrobe will be eternally grateful. 

The Offbeat Sari opens Saturday 21 March 2026 at 4.30pm and runs Sunday, 22 March–Sunday, 30 August 2026 at Bunjil Place Gallery (10am-5pm Tue-Fri, 10am-4pm Sat-Sun, closed Mon)—free & family friendly at 2 Patrick NE Dr, Narre Warren.

Main Image Credit: The Offbeat Sari | Supplied