The traditional Salwar-Kurta or the Salwar-Kameez was the result of the practice followed by Muslim women to wear divided garments during the Mughal period. This dress has survived to this day and has a variant called ‘Chooridar’ in which the salwar is replaced by the ‘Chooridar’ a tapering pant with folds at the bottom.

The ‘Lehenga’ is another dress that had its origins during Mughal times. It was believed to be a dress that defined Indian values completely, which is probably why it has survived to this day. Even now, it makes use of Mughal era patterns and designs though it has been given many contemporary designs as well. In Gujarat and Rajasthan, the variant of the Lehenga- the ‘Ghagra Choli’ with an ‘Odhni’ or dupatta still preserves its ethnicity with mirror work and embroidery. Some Rajasthani women wear black ‘Ghagra Cholis’ with Cowrie shells and mirror work too. During the reign of the Nawabs in Lucknow the ‘Sharara’ or ‘Gharara’ was born which was influenced by the ‘Ghagra Choli’.

During British rule, women in West Bengal did not wear blouses and covered the upper part of their body with the end of their saree. The British populace did not find it appropriate and that is how blouses and petticoats came into existence.

The Saree is one Indian dress that enjoys worldwide popularity. The UNESCO praises it as a “valuable Indian contribution to the world’s cultural heritage and diversity”. Artisans across the country make use of locally available resources to produce sarees, which are a masterpiece on their own self. The beautiful weaves and designs on sarees make one wonder about the creativity of these weavers. Different regions of India have different specialties and a variety of sarees. Though there are several varieties, the famous ones are Chanderi and Maheshwari from Madhya Pradesh, Banarsi saree (which have brocade work), Paithan in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra has kept alive the 2000-year old traditional method of weaving Paithani sarees using pure gold threads and yarns of silk. The other types of sarees are Andhra Pradesh’s Pochampally saree or PochampalliIkat, in which skillful weavers create geometric patterns in silk, Assam is home to rich golden colored Muga silk, the finest of India’s wild silk sarees. Kanjivaram and Patola are also the finest silk sarees in India.

Talking of Kashmiri dresses, the ‘Pheran’ is what comes to mind instantly. It is a loose woolen gown that is worn by both men and women to beat the freezing temperatures of the region. It has minute embroidery around the neck and the edges.

You must have seen Bihu dancers dancing in motif-rich ‘Mekhela Chador’- the traditional dress worn in the state of Assam. This dress is made from Muga silk and consists of a skirt-like lower part. The ‘Riha’ and ‘Chador’ are worn on the upper part of the body.

Another eye-catching north-eastern dress is the ‘Puanchei’ of Mizoram, which is cherished by every Mizo woman. It is paired with the ‘Kawrechi’ blouse that gives the Bamboo dance its distinct feel because of the colourful designs and patterns of the dress.

Coming to men’s clothing, we find that the unstructured ‘Angrakha’, that was a court outfit in ancient times, has given birth to the ‘Bandhgala’. It is now a preferred dress for weddings and formal occasions. It is also a favorite with politicians and the royals. Another dress that is considered perfect for weddings is the Sherwani. During weddings, men can be seen donning a Dhoti or a Pyjama with a Sherwani. Sherwani is also worn on other special occasions like festivals and other celebrations. A kurta is also worn with pajamas in North India. In fact, the Pathani suit is popular regular wear in Patiala and the richer version is also worn during weddings. In Srinagar, it is also known as the ‘Khan’ dress.

The Dhoti-Kurta is the traditional wear of men in villages mostly in south Indian cities. It is an unstitched piece of cloth in plain white, colored or checks, which is wrapped around the waist. It is known by different names in different parts of India like ‘Mundu’ in Malayalam, ‘Dhotar’ in Marathi, ‘Panche’ in Kannada, and many other names. The Dhoti is worn almost all over India but the form may differ.

These dresses carry with them the age-old traditions that keep us connected to our roots and make us enjoy our vibrant cultures.

Indian fashion varies from one village to another village, from one city to another city. India’s fashion heritage is rich in tradition, vibrant in colors, and prepossessing. Bold colors created by the inventive drapes of the textiles catch the imagination like no other contemporary clothing.

Ancient Indian fashion garments generally used no stitching although Indians knew about sewing. Most clothes were ready to wear as soon as they left the loom. The traditional Indian Dhoti, the Scarf or Uttariya, and the popular Turban are still visible in India and continue to be part of Indian fashion. Likewise, for women, the Dhoti or die Sari as the lower garments, combined with a Stanapatta forms the basic ensemble, and once again consists of garments that do not have to be stitched, the Stanapatta being fastened in a knot at the back. And the Dhoti or the Sari is worn covering both legs at the same time or, in the alternative, with one end of it passed between the legs and tucked at the back in the fashion that is still prevalent in a large area of India. Indian men and women wear these garments in the usually hot Indian climate.

Indian sari remains the traditional clothing of Indian women. Worn in varied styles, it is a long piece of flat cotton, silk, or other fabric woven in different textures with different patterns. The sari has a lasting charm since it is not cut or tailored for a particular size. This graceful feminine attire can also be worn in several ways and its manner of wearing as well as its color and texture are indicative of the status, age, occupation, region, and religion of a woman. The tightly fitted, the short blouse is worn under a sari is called a choli. The choli evolved as a form of Indian clothing around the tenth century AD and the first cholis were only front covering; the back was always bare.