Over the coming weeks, The Daily Advertiser will be highlighting fashions from cultures that are thriving in Wagga with women leading the way forward.

Saba Nabi said the traditional dress in India is the well-known sari that has been around since Medieval times.

"It comprises of a short skirt and then you tie the five-yard sari around it as well as the blouse," she said.

"You wear this on all occasions, whether formal or informal.

"During weddings and festivals, you wear all the bright colours."

Ms Nabi moved to Wagga six years ago from Delhi to finish her PhD at Charles Sturt University and became an Australian citizen in 2018.

She said she loves green so tends to choose saris in that colour.

"When you are a teenager and you graduate from school, that is the first time you wear a sari," Ms Nabi said.

"It makes you feel more grown up and then after marriage most of the girls wear saris.

"I was so happy when I wore my first one and I borrowed a lot from my mum."

Elections, cocktail parties, weddings and other occasions are all times to wear a sari, Ms Nabi said.

"I love to dress in a traditional way when I can," she said.

"It gives you a distinct identity, I am Australian and Indian at heart.

"More commonly women will wear a tunic with leggings for a more casual look because it is more comfortable."

Ms Nabi said her daughter is wearing a lehnga which is made up of the long skirt and the top, known as the choli.

"That's what young and unmarried girls wear," she said.

Ariba Omar, 9, said she loves wearing the lehnga.

"I feel very pretty in it," she said.

"It is a very long skirt with a very pretty top.

"Some of these are very itchy, but some of them are very soft but the good thing is how pretty it is."

Ariba said she can't wait for her first sari, as long as it not itchy she joked.

"I want my first one to be red," she said.

Ms Nabi said they will often import the fabrics or buy it when visiting home.

"I am very bad at stitching so I buy everything," she laughed.

"I used to watch mum drape it, but I am still not great at it. My mother would be horrified if she saw how I wrapped my sari."

Ms Nabi joked saying a bonus to living in Wagga was that not many people know how to drape a sari.

While you're with us, did you know that you can now receive updates straight to you inbox each day at 6am from the Daily Advertiser? To make sure you're up to date with all the Wagga news sign up here.