The Evolution of Ethnic Wear in India

Fashion is constantly evolving. Every season brings a new trend which is essentially a more contemporary take on existing attires. So, regular jeans became ripped jeans, then stone-washed jeans and so on. No aspect of fashion is untouched by this urgent need to progress in order to survive. Indian ethnic wear is no exception. It has undergone several changes in look, form, and appearance to keep up with modern times and retain its appeal to the woman of today.

Factors That Influenced This Change

The journey from Anarkali suits to Anarkali dress with pants was brought about by several influences:

• Fusion wear for the modern working woman:

Sarees and salwar kameez have always been around and offered comfortable clothing to women that allows them to perform chores with ease. As more women began to take up professional work outside the realm of homes, the need for a more functional wardrobe arose. A wardrobe that could take them from home to work and also doubled as a sundowner outfit. Thus, was born fusion wear. The modest salwar kameez gave way to asymmetrical cuts and varied lengths in kurtas. The bottoms switched from salwarsto palazzos & pants. The ethnic dupatta for women transformed into breezy stoles. All this while ready-to-drape sarees, dhoti sarees etc., dotted the scene.

• Western Influences:

As India opened up to the world, western influences permeated fashion as well. Women were attracted to modern silhouette. To cater the growing fondness, designers began to incorporate these into Indian ethnic wear. Traditional Indian prints like bagru, indigo print kurti, kalamkari etc., were used to lend contemporary pants and shirts, a touch of ethnic. Heavy lehengas transformed into skirts with light embellishments and a sleeker drape, short tunics and anarkali dress with pants were some options that emerged to blend the two styles. Some labels like Vishnu have mastered the art of creating a confluence between classic and modern. And their clothing curation showcases this fluently.

• Fashion Influencers:

The Gram is replete with influencers showcasing how to use a simple indigo print kurti and transform it into a sundowner outfit with just a few accessories. These influencers are spearheading the revolution that transforms ethnic wear into something more and enhances its appeal and scope as fashion that’s here to stay.

The Vibrant Indian Ethnic Wear

The world is sitting up and taking notice of the mesmerizing variety of fabrics, textures, and prints that exists in the Indian fashion industry. A large portion of it reflects the rich heritage and craftsmanship that pervades every inch of our country. The diversity of intricate handwork, the assortment of hand block prints, variety of traditional attires, and range of brilliant weaves are local treasures that have enriched the Indian landscape for centuries. There is something for everyone here! We can continue to dig into the rich Indian crafts and arts for centuries and never run out of inspiration. The evolution of ethnic outfits like the ethnic dupatta for women is a continual process that will keep birthing novel styles that keep intact the essence of the traditional.

Source: https://indigoblockprintkurta.blogspot.com/2022/10/the-evolution-of-ethnic-wear-in-india.html