WINTER FASHION IN INDIA
The fashion industry in India covers a huge range of clothing. The Indian designers create both beautifully embellished wedding outfits and casual wear. Apart from these, India also represents a unique blend of sarees woven in silk and cotton for women and garments for men. The Indian traditional techniques of embroidery and colourful clothing have flagged their way into the international fashion runway portraying the fusion of Indo-western clothing. Needless to say, the fashion industry in India has been advantaged by thousands of years of rich tradition behind it and is known as the vogue of sewn garments as it has existed in India ever ancient history. Most of the history of textile in Asia during the 17th and 18th century was focused in India. Indian textile culture can be traced back to the great Indus valley civilization where fabric samples, clothed sculptures, and textile production tools have been uncovered. There, woven textiles of cotton and silk were extremely popular. The spread of Indian textiles due to Silk Road trade led to many textile traditions, including the dyeing of materials. In 17th Century during the Mughal Empire, India became the largest textile economy worldwide. At this time, India’s international trade with other nations flourished.
The winters in India are mild, pleasant and dry with average daytime temperature around 29 c and night around 12 c. We do not find really chilling weathers or snowfall in major parts of the country, which does not give people the liberty to really follow the global trend. But when it comes to fashion, India is increasingly a focal point for the fashion industry. According to the report of State of Fashion, India’s ascent is one of the ten trends the fashion industry should watch in 2019. The fashion industry in India is known for its cultural heritage and elegance. It brings out the subtleness of Indian culture that has sustained through ages. The youth here seems to be less influenced by the western trend, but with the current trend of social media India’s fashion scenario has evolved from comfortable, sophisticated and aesthetically beautiful to trending celebrity’s styles. Making a sweeping surge into today’s global scenario, the fashion industry in India is an amalgamation of dynamic conventions.
Looking at all the runways and fashion shows we can see the 90’s trend has continued to gain momentum. From shoulder padded blazers and trench coats to fuzzy oversized jackets every vintage piece is coming back on trend. The long thigh high boots, which the popular Hollywood singer Ariana Grande brought in trend is turning to be classic statement piece in every girl winter wardrobe as we see it all over the streets every winter. The three buttoned blazers paired with neutral color muffler and well fitted jeans is the go to outfit for guys in winters. The chunky rubber sole unisex boots has sported by the celebrities around the globe right from the Kardashians to our own fashion icon Priyanka Chopra Jonas.
From ethnic and traditional outfits to western and high-street fashion, fashion industry in India has definitely gone through a huge transformations. The fashion influencers like Ashna Shroff, Malvika Satlani, Komal Pandey seems to be rocking both salwar kameez and neon biker shorts on their instagram profiles. When we talk about fashion accessories plays a very vital role. Since the time of our great rulers India is known for wearing heavy and chunky jewellery. India and jewellery, jewellery and Indian women – the terms are linked inherently. The trend of sola sringhar (sixteen adornments) of the bride on her wedding day still exists. The adornment consists of traditional makeup, stunning jewellery, floral embellishments and painting of body parts. Each of these adornments is believed to enhance the girl’s beauty and establish her in this Goddess-like aura. Indian women wore heavy Mughal inspired jewellery not only on her wedding day but also on a day to day basis. But in today’s time women are shifting from chunky and heavy jewellery to more simple and sophisticated French women like jewellery. All the cities across the length and width of India have shops of jewellers – some traditional and some modern jewellers, catering to the need of all kinds. Be it gold, silver or diamonds you will find everything in the country.
India still exports different fabrics to different part of the world. India exported $ 1.9 billion of raw cotton in 2017-18. The Kashmiri Shawl is one of the most beautiful and rarest gift that could be offered to any women till date. Woollen blankets and shawls were woven and exported to the world. By the sixteenth century shawls were being hoarded as forms of wealth, and in the late seventeenth Western visitors reported seeing men wearing large decorative scarves across their shoulders. Toward the end of the eighteenth century European and New England ladies discovered “India” shawls; the soft fabric draped beautifully, the colours shimmered, and the pine patterns spoke of the mysterious East. Discerning ambassadors and sea captains carried them home, and a fashion took hold. Napoleon’s officers in Egypt sent them to their French ladies around the turn of the century. A lot of Indian fabrics are still well known and valued worldwide. So, this winters pair a Kashmiri shawl with your outfit, it will not only keep you warm but will add a classic accessory at the same time.