Mehala Ford's Modern Sari Story : From Concept to Culture

This episode features a joyful chat with Mehala Ford, Fashion PR, Curator and founder of concept store "Friday Sari Project" (FSP), exploring her innovative approaches to modern sari styling. Mehala was born in Sri Lanka and raised in the UK. She is a creative entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the fashion industry and worked with notable designers like Alexander McQueen, Preen and emerging young designers in the late 90’s.  She teaches and champions modern sari drapes and styling to encourage the continuity of sari wearing. She has founded several creative platforms, notably FSP and she is also the creator of CommonGround&, an arts platform for South Asian creatives and has curated several cultural programmes for Royal Museums Greenwich.Mehala discusses her transition from UK fashion retail to reconnecting with her heritage through the FSP. The project modernises traditional sari draping to resonate with contemporary fashion audiences and raises cultural awareness. We delve into the sari's historical roots, its adaptability, and the British influence on its styling. Mehala shares her love affair with Sari draping and South Asian creativity and tradition, ultimately bringing attention to the vibrant artistic and cultural landscape of Sri Lanka.SummaryIntroduction to the PodcastMeet This Week's Guest: Mehala FordMehala's Background and Fashion JourneyGrowing Up Sri Lankan in the UKBreaking into the Creative IndustryThe Influence of Family and the 80sDiscovering the SariThe Friday Sari ProjectThe Versatility of Sari DrapesGlobal Connections in Draping StylesModern Relevance of DrapingDraping Workshops and Cultural ExchangeHeritage and Personal StoriesThe Friday Sari ProjectCurating South Asian HeritageExploring Sri Lankan CreativityFuture Plans and Upcoming Eventshttps://www.fridaysariproject.co.ukTitle: Sri Lanka: Modern Perspectives from an Ancient Melting PotHost: Dee Gibson — Sri Lankan-born, award winning designer based in London and founder of boutique hotel Kalukanda House in Sri Lanka. www.kalukandahouse.com | instagram @deegibson2017 & @kalukandahousePodcast Themes:Modern Sri Lankan identity and cultureArchitecture, art, and designSustainability and heritageDiaspora experiences and storytellingWhy Listen:This podcast offers deep, intelligent storytelling about Sri Lanka’s evolving identity — a blend of East and West, ancient and modern. It’s for listeners who love culture, travel, architecture, and thoughtful conversation.