Bill and Tara Quigley of Elliottsburg, PA are making a name for themselves not only in the Pennsylvania area, but also with each festival that they take their Dancing Skirt to. The couple owns a shop in Carlisle on Hanover St. where they maintain their base of operation.
The idea for these skirts came to Tara while she was in India. While there, her appreciation for the saris turned into an idea to create the dancing skirt.
The overall idea of the business is simple - taking vintage saris, a female dress from the Indian subcontinent, and turning them into a double layered skirt that when tied in a variety of ways, creates countless dresses that can be worn on all sorts of occasions:
- Grecian
- Halter-Top
- Empire Waist
- Basic Skirt
- Flirty Top
Each skirt runs about $35 and can be purchased through the store or at the various art festivals that the couple takes their product to. They come with an instructional booklet, complete with detailed photographs that help the wearer turn the dancing skirt into any of the above mentioned styles with lots more to uncover.
What is a Sari?
According to Roshan Alkazi in Ancient Indian Costume, a sari is a strip of unstitched cloth, ranging from four to nine meters in length that is draped over the body in various styles. The most common style is for the sari to be wrapped around the waist, with one end then draped over the shoulder baring the midriff. The sari is usually worn over a petticoat, with a blouse known as a choli or ravika forming the upper garment. The choli has short sleeves and a low neck. It is usually cropped, and as such is particularly well-suited for wear in the sultry South Asian summers. Cholis may be "backless" or of a halter neck style. These are usually more dressy with a lot of embellishments such as mirrors or embroidery and may be worn on special occasions. Women in the armed forces, when wearing a sari uniform, wear a half-sleeve shirt tucked in at the waist. The saree was born in both South and North India and is now a symbol of India.
The Sari Then and Now
What makes a vintage sari different from present day is the way that it is made. Older saris are made of silk and have a long process to go through before they are considered finished. The material is hand-woven often starched and dyed. More expensive saris have different embellishments and patterns loomed into the fabric. Today, however, the sari has become a victim of mass production and is often made out of rayon, nylon or polyester. The beautiful patterns of the hand-woven sari have also become manufactured, with the designs often "floating" on the front of the sari while leaving much to be desired in the back. Hand-woven saris are still in demand when it comes to big events such as weddings.
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