Indian Clothing
India has a vast deposit of culture and tradition, but in what the Indian clothing is concerned a certain flexibility and adaptability are definitely noticeable.
Traditional items that were originally worn only in some parts of India or by some members of the society, such as the salwar kameez (a long shirt worn with loose pants, with or without a scarf) which were originally considered a Muslim dress, have become popular all over India. The traditional Indian style of clothing varies with male or female differences.
The tradition is still followed in rural areas but not so much in the urban areas anymore. Thus, young girls who have not reached puberty yet wear a long skirt called a langa and a short blouse called a choli on top of it. Teenage girls wear half-saris while women usually wear full saris.
The sari is maybe the best known piece of women Indian clothing. A sari is a wide strap of cloth which is several yards long, and wrapped around the body with pallu on the shoulder depending on the place where the wearer lives, their social status, and personal preference. Saris are usually made of light silk or cotton, and they are richly dyed and decorated.
The art of draping and pinning a sari has been an open secret among women, and variations were created out of the desire to have comfortable clothing.
The most often encountered Indian clothing for men consists of the dhoti and kurta, which are worn mostly in the western and central regions of the country.
A sherwani is a type of Indian clothing specific to special occasions. Men living in Northern India and the Punjab may wear, just as the women, salwar kameez, most often made out of plain white cotton, and the top, the kameez, matched with a dark waistcoat. The lungi, a type of garment to be wrapped around, is worn in many parts of India, but it may be restricted to indoor-wear, depending on the social habits of the region.
Indian clothing is known for its grace, elegance and, not lastly, its comfort, that is why it is so popular all over the world. Another specific element of the Indian clothing is the fact that the lines become blurred when it comes to fashion; there is more a unisex wardrobe than an exclusive line of clothes for her or him.
With an emphasis on good looks, men and women are exploring different trends in Indian clothing, blending the traditional/Indian with the modern/Western style in a fusion that becomes a trademark for a style of clothing.
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