The first time Reena Almeida wore a lugra was for her Moya (a pre-marriage ceremony) 10 years ago. “I wanted my wedding to include as many traditions as possible — I was migrating to a new country, and the lugra would always remind me of my East Indian identity. Even within the community, the lugra is a novelty. Like many brides-to-be, I wanted one of my own to cherish forever,” she reminisces. She was disappointed to find that the way the 10-yard garment draped against her body felt alien, despite her lugra being draped by an aunt who was an expert draper. Like most other East Indian women, she never wore a lugra again until she decided to embark on a research project as part of East Indian Memory Co, an archival project dedicated to her native culture, which she founded. Her curiosity was driven by the fact that after shunning the lugra for years, women were now eager to wear one for a community event or festivities.

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