Stacy Jacobs uses Indian handloom sarees to protest against policies of US President Donald Trump
New Delhi:
In August last year, union Textiles minister Smriti Irani started the "I wear handloom" campaign on Twitter to promote India's textile industry and the thousands of weavers in the country. The campaign was a huge hit with celebs and politicians and Twitter was flooded with photos of them wearing handspun clothes. But even before the campaign came into being, an American woman in Chicago was a fan of the Indian handloom.
Stacy Jacobs visited Chennai in 2015 which is when she was introduced to Indian textiles. Since then, her Instagram profile has been a vibrant photo album of rich, colourful Indian fabrics. Stacy soon graduated from the kurtas, tunics to the glorious Indian saree when she first attempted draping the six-yards of fabric.
But somewhere along the way, the clothes became a symbol of what they stood for. Stacy now wears her treasured sarees as a symbol of diversity. #iwearhandloom soon gave way to #protestsaree when she wore a blue cotton saree to the Women's March on January 21, the same day Donald Trump took oath as US President. Since then, she has draped the saree to speak on several issues and often policies by US President Donald Trump.
Here she is using the saree to protest against misogyny. "Today I am protesting the misogynistic attitude and behavior of the so-called American president, in the strongest possible terms. Think I'm too lumpy to show a little skin, Trump? You're not impressed? Get this: there are six yards of magic fabric between you and where you might grab me. These yards were made by the fearsome Dongria Kondh tribe, who refused to back down in their fight against a massive British mining company. Like the Dongria Kondh #iwontbackdown," she wrote.
A saree to protest against Donald Trump's ban on Muslims from several countries. "I stand in opposition to bigotry, hatred, and the current American president," she said.
Her saree against the president's health care bill which was eventually rejected.
This is not just another #sareesunday and this is not just a saree. If you've been with me for a while you know I love and respect @mayankanandshraddhanigam and the incredible intelligent thoughtful looks they bring out each and every season. So when @mayankanandofficial told me he'd send me a saree, I was beyond excited. Imagine my surprise when they sent me a saree that's a statement, a set of feelings, an example AND a challenge! This stunning soft muslin from West Bengal was the exact textile that got me hooked on #iwearhandloom I have it writ small, in a scarf that I love and have posted many times. I have it in a lightweight summer dress that goes on like a dream and feels like a gentle wind. This saree feels like rest, like vacation, like tea and a book on a quiet afternoon. It also kicked my saree-novice a$$ trying to drape it nicely. The first half-and-half saree in my collection -- nobody new it would be that hard. Which brings me to the point: I wear this important and difficult #protestsaree to say to our (dumb as a box of rocks) so-called president: Nobody knew health care was so difficult? #bullshit Nothing is more important than healthcare. I stand firmly against the efforts of "conservatives " to deny health coverage to our most vulnerable populations. Mental health, physical health, reproductive health. Get with the program, dude. #sareenotsorry #keepcalmandsareeon #didyougetthatinindia (yes, yes. Saree by @mayankanandshraddhanigam necklace by @manjha.shop and tshirt from @jamesperse ) #diversitymatters #istandwithrefugeesandmuslims #istandwithbrownpeople #istandwithlgbtqpeople #alwaysingratitude
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She even backed Indian artisans by wearing a tussar silk tribal saree from Odisha.
This one to protest against the US President refusing to declare his tax returns and his proposed tax cuts for the rich.
Here she explains that borders belong only sarees and not in countries
She even reposted the 'original' protest saree.
She also protested against the proposed Mexican border wall Mr Trump plans to build
Bringing people together, one saree at a time.
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