Many fashionistas believe that Indian fashion is undergoing an exciting phase. Some designers and art historians are spending a lot of time and effort on bringing back lost aesthetics of Indian fashion. They are trying to revive forgotten handicrafts, textiles, embroideries, embellishments, prints and designs, especially those from obscure regions which had faded away due to a lack of funding. There is also a lot of exciting innovation and re-invention going on; high-end designers as well as rural weavers and artisans are really pushing the boundaries of ethnic fashion and exploring the full potential of traditional garments, techniques and motifs from the Indian sub-continent. Add to this the trend of fusion fashion, in which western silhouettes and styles are incorporated in Indian clothing, and what you have is a truly mesmerizing panorama of clothes, patterns, designs and styles. One of the most obvious ways in which Indian fashion has evolved is the use of different types of fabrics, besides the traditional silks and cottons. Earlier, women (especially those from noble families) would spend hours with weavers and workers selecting just the right fabric. From the color and feel to the design and motifs, every aspect was considered. Nowadays, of course, a vast majority of garments purchased are ready made; salwar kameez, lehengas, kurtas, dhotis and even sarees are mostly pre-stitched and then sold. This has encouraged the use of hitherto unconventional and western fabrics such as georgette and chiffon, specifically in case of ready made salwar kameez. This is because these two fabrics are strong and quite beautiful, even while being universally flattering for women of diverse body shapes and sizes. Cheaper materials like rayon, polyester, khadi and jute are also frequently used to make readymade salwar kameez, kurtas, tunics and sarees. In India, the pure silk saree is probably the most popular garment for special occasions. There are many different varieties of the pure silk saree, as each region of the country has a different style of weaving and decorating their local varieties of raw silks. Though these traditional methods of handloom weaving and embroidery may have been developed keeping silk in mind, it is no longer the only fabric used. Weavers and customers alike have started to appreciate the beauty of modern fabrics and pure georgette sarees as well as pure chiffon sarees have become two of the most popular and iconic contemporary sari styles in India. Pure georgette sarees are typically the favorites of sari producers who focus more on heavy embellishments and embroidery, as georgette is quite a strong fabric that can handle rich designs easily. On the other hand, pure chiffon sarees create more of a high end, sophisticated look as they are usually plain and focus more on perfect draping and smart silhouettes to bring in the glamour factor. In traditional Indian garments, cotton and silk fabrics still rule the roost, while in the more modern catalogues, chiffon and georgette are the most popular base materials. Besides these, other fancy fabrics like crepe, net, tissue, velvet, brocades and organza are also becoming quite popular in Indian fashion.
Related Articles -
indian fashion, readymade salwar kameez, pure silk sarees, chiffon sarees, georgette sarees,
|