SareeNaSorry Funshop @ About Balance

Spend an afternoon with Poppy and the team at our 5th Brighton SareeNaSorry Funshop.

This Funshop is first and foremost designed for you to have fun! We'll have over 20 preloved sarees in different colours and materials for you to drape. Guided by the expertise of Poppy, a saree collector and enthusiast, we'll also explore identity, pride, vanity and self-limiting beliefs.

Each Funshop will be uplifting and on the saree and its roots, addressing the issues around cultural appropriation.

This is a safe space to share experiences through fun and glamour.

• Funshop outline
• A short discussion on the story of the saree from Poppy
• Drape up and photoshoot by a professional photographer
• Re-group and close

There is no cafe at the venue so feel free to bring your own snacks and drinks. Only vegan food is allowed at the venue so please keep this in mind.

The saree is the most inclusive item of clothing in the world, it is versatile and fits every ‘body’!

It's 5 to 9 metres of unstitched material which can be draped in more than 90 ways to fit any size or shape.

Steeped in South Asian history, female power and identity, there is a weave, pattern, colour and style for every personality. The Saree is worn by people working in agriculture, art, construction, politics and at home.

The Western world has categorised the saree as a ‘traditional’ costume, yet it's the daily wear of millions of people all over the world, it's normal, colourful, dynamic and a lot of fun.

Our Funshop is an invitation from Poppy, a British Bangladeshi, to join her and have fun whilst sharing the love of draping in a saree.

The Funshop has a designated area for you to take your own pictures. To add to the glitz and glam we have booked a Brighton-based photographer to capture the event and each of you individually looking fabulous in your saree.

These photos will be shared with you after the Funshop and we encourage you to share by tagging SareeNaSorry's Instagram handle.

Our first priority is to create a safe space for you to play and have fun. With your permission, we would like to use the images on our Instagram page to publicise our next Funshop. We'll be respectful of anybody that does not want to be photographed or their images to be used. Just let us know on the day!

We'll be working in pairs to drape the saree, with our experts to guide and help you. There will be some physical contact in order to get the drape right for you and to get you looking and feeling amazing, ready for your photoshoot. Let us know if you need us to make any adaptions.

What to wear?

We recommend you wear whatever top you feel comfortable in, for example crop tops, bikini tops, blouses, t-shirts all look great with a saree! On your bottom half we suggest a skirt, or leggings / trousers (ideally something with an elasticated waistline). Take a look at the following website for inspiration: https://thesariseries.com/how-to-drape-films

Feel free to bring accessories and make up to dazzle in your drape.

Each SareeNaSorry Funshop is a collaboration with a local business that shares our values and is keen to give back to the local community by donating its space. This Funshop is with our friends at About Balance!

We love this Brighton-based organisation, who's mission is to make wellbeing affordable and accessible to all.

About Balance's street-level floor is accessible by a ramp. However, the toilets are on the bottom floor and unfortunately, there is no lift. See FAQs for more information.

Poppy Jaman is a British Bengali woman who has spent her life raising awareness globally on mental health and issues around gender equality.

In her own words, Poppy shares her inspiration behind the SaraaNaSorry Funshop:

'I’ve been creating Saree soirées amongst friends from the day I started partying and even more frequently as I ‘grew up’ enough to be hosting gatherings.

I have the best memories of multi-generations of women draped in colour with stories to tell from Columbia to Australia. The saree is a vehicle that has bought to me "my people", it has made strangers dearest friends.

At the many soirées, I’ve experienced sisterhood, magic and always so much laughter.

Over the years I’ve noticed the way women are drawn to different colours, draping styles and how they hold themselves once they have landed in the right place. How they become playful with their vanity, how confidence grows and usually some posing and dancing follows.

However, the really incredible part is how women relax and then the stories emerge, some speak, others listen and everyone lets go a little. Everyone heals a little.

As I often say, the saree to me is a big beautiful embrace, a big hug of colour and confidence.'

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

About Balance, 20-22 Gloucester Place, Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom