CNN video: Times are hard pressed for the Indian sari

This CNN International video demonstrates what sorry times these are for the Indian sari. And I have to agree.

I'm 29, and I still can't tie my own sari. Only a few of my friends actually can. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy swadling myself in six yards of Indian culture -- actually I love it -- but in a crunch, I most often find myself pulling a salwar kameez or a lehenga off the rack for wear at weddings or religious ceremonies.

Sari handling issues and tying skills aside, I've often fantasized about wearing an elegant cotton sari to work. But I know that's not going to happen either. The thought of getting in and out of cabs while my pleats unravel is enough to put me squarely off the idea.

When it comes to buying one, that's fine; by all means collect for future generations. But the sari is not exactly pret-a-porter. It's a pain to get a lining made, buy a petticoat and get the blouse stitched; that's a lot of running around. These days they make snap-on, pre-pleated saris, but they're just not the same.

It's sad, but true I'm afraid: the sari is a garment better suited to a more leisurely lifestyle -- and perhaps even era.

What do you think? Can we save the sari from a future in moth ball-filled cabinets?