News Notes
Traditional saris on display at The New York Historical. Photo Gerardo Romo/NYC Council Flickr
The New York Historical presents The New York Sari, an exploration of one of the world’s oldest-known garments and its impact on New York. Originating in South Asia, the sari has spread across oceans through trade, colonialism, and migration, becoming a truly global garment. This exhibition traces how the sari – and those who wear it – found a home in New York City. Once seen as a marker of distance and exoticism, the sari has become woven into the city’s cultural fabric, embraced by new generations of artists, dancers, entrepreneurs, community leaders, scientists, and changemakers.
The sari, with its endless variations in fabric, pattern, and draping style, carries a story shaped by centuries of textile artistry, global trade, and cultural exchange that began long before Portuguese ships arrived in India in 1498. The distinct variations we see today are a powerful representation of regional tradition, cultural identity, and personal expression. For many, the sari evokes rituals, milestones, and womanhood; for others, it becomes a bold statement of reinvention.
“At The New York Historical, we are committed to telling stories that reflect the full breadth of the American experience,” said Dr. Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of The New York Historical. “The New York Sari illuminates how a centuries-old garment continues to shape identity, artistry, and community-building across our city. This exhibition is a celebration of the sari’s complexity – not only as a textile but as a powerful cultural symbol shaped by trade, migration, and personal expression. By centering voices from across the diaspora, we invite all New Yorkers to consider the rich histories woven into the fabric of everyday life and how a single garment can hold memory, spark dialogue, and foster belonging in a city as dynamic as New York.”
Featuring more than 50 objects, photographs, and ephemera, The New York Sari follows the sari from the Indian subcontinent to New York City – first as an exotic object of trade and later as a living tradition embraced by communities across the diaspora. Through themes such as the sari’s place within consumer empires, its role in dance and performance, the empowerment found in its craftsmanship, explorations of gender and identity, and the building of community, the exhibition illuminates the multifaceted significance of the sari. Exhibition highlights span the 18th century to modern day.
The New York Sari is curated by Salonee Bhaman, curatorial scholar at the Center for Women’s History, and Anna Danziger Halperin, director of the Center for Women’s History.
Families can explore The New York Sari together with a dedicated family guide to the exhibition with fun activities for all ages. Kid-friendly programs will take place during the exhibition’s run, including a special Family Day in the fall. The exhibition is on view now through April 26, 2026.
New York’s first museum, The New York Historical is a leading cultural institution covering over 400 years of American history.
For further details, visit nyhistory.org.
