Current Projects and Events

The Sari Project

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Kahini, in partnership with The Social Studio, upcycles traditional Indian saris donated by Melbourne's South Asian community. The Sari Project explores women's migrant experiences and honours the cultural significance of these saris, creating innovative fashion pieces for retail and exhibition and opportunities for employment, while addressing the increasing issue of textile waste. This project also creates a community of support and artistic exchange, drawing from intergenerational experiences of migration and settlement in Australia, the meaning behind the saris and ways of weaving these stories into contemporary designs. In February 2025, we held our first workshop, based at The Social Studio headquarters in Collingwood, with some of the Sari donors from the Kahini community and the team at The Social Studio. The exchange was full of insightful stories of heritage, migration and fashion – inspiring some new ways of looking at the use of the Sari fabric whilst still honouring the cultural significance. The Social Studio also shared their social enterprise journey in Melbourne and enabled the cross-cultural and cross-generational understanding of the work they do in the community.​

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The Sari Project Exhibition

1st November 2025 | The Wheelers Centre, Melbourne CBD | Free | Register 

Join us in celebrating the launch of The Sari Project, a year-long collaboration between The Social Studio and Kahini. Inspired by 100 donated saris, this project explores stories of migration and intercultural exchange between the students of The Social Studio and the women of Kahini.

The exhibition blends fashion, visual art, photography, dance, and cuisine to create an immersive, sensory experience. Join us to connect with community members and meet the women involved in this project. RSVP for the free event here.

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Melbourne Fashion Week Event

22 October 2025 | The Recital Centre, Southbank | Tickets

The Social Studio has also developed a dynamic retail collection using the pre-loved saris, which will be presented at Melbourne Fashion Week. The special immersive event, Fashion X Music, is set for 22 October at the Recital Centre, where the collection will be shown in collaboration with the Kahini dancers, who will interpret the inspiration behind the collection through Bharatanatyam dance and Indian music.

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Our Approach

Kahini collaborates with organisations or groups to run projects – from start to end. For each new idea, Kahini provides a concept and a plan to achieve specific goals. This plan is developed through a cooperative process, ensuring that all aspects of the project are thoroughly considered and planned. This joint approach leads to a professional and innovative solution to problems, with communication as a key component. Projects include a final evaluation to assess impact and compare outcomes with initial goals. Kahini prides itself on delivering high-level project management while maintaining a personal touch.

Sponsors

We would like to thank our sponsors Simba Global and Creative Australia for their generous support of The Sari Project.