Every office has a specific work culture, and one is expected to maintain dignity while working there. Most corporate demand that one is dressed in formals while turning up for work. The HR policies of most companies (particularly the larger MNCs) specify what is allowed and what is not. Because of the same, it is seen that most of them allow both Indian and western formal. However, a significant population still sticks to ethnic or Indian formals when given a choice. This population mostly comprises of those belonging to the fairer sex.
The reason for this preference may be attributed to a host of reasons. While some women argue that eve-teasing and corporate sexual harassment decreases if one swell covered, others say that this preference is because they are more accustomed to donning Indian wear and that makes them more comfortable in the same.
The environment of corporate workplaces also has a role to play here. There are many other reasons. Some of them are to do with the climate of the place and the season while the rest is to do with the mode of transportation that one uses to commute to and from work. This article explores all of that in-depth and speaks of why people prefer ethnic wear as formal in offices.
The Reason Behind Preference to Wear Ethnic as Formal in Offices
01. Because the Rule Book Allows So:
Most corporate are pretty strict about what their employees can or cannot wear. The reason why employees wear ethnic wear is that the rule book of the company allows them the provision to do so. When MNCs establish their offices in a country, they plan their growth and business expansion while keeping the local culture in mind. Allowing their employees to wear ethnic formals is one way of establishing their respect for the Indian culture.
02. Climatic Reasons:
Global standards of formal wear would include skirts, waistcoats, ties, tight trousers and leather shoes. Most of the countries where this is practiced have an average temperature of 15 degrees around the year. Now India is a tropical country. Most regions here, the weather is humid for a significant portion of the year.
The average temperature in many places is as high as 40 degrees. In such a situation, it makes no sense to mimic the practices of the west as becomes very uncomfortable for an individual to adhere to that type of formals. For cost and other reasons, it is not feasible for an individual to have multiple sets of formal wears of different genres. That is why people prefer to stick to simple Indian ethnic wear as formal wear in corporate offices.
03. Comfort Reasons:
Many colleges across the country (particularly in the Southern part of the country) have a dress code wherein women are expected to wear either kurta-leggings or salwar kameez. In many places in the North, households dictate that girls stick to ethnic wear since they attain puberty. In such a situation, women tend to grow used to it, and they are the most comfortable when they wear ethnic. The ethnic wear becomes a part of who they are, and they pull off the same with grace. Hence when they take up jobs in the corporate sector, they prefer staying in their comfort zone while dressing up in formals.
04. Body Shape and Structure:
The body shape of most Indian women is curvier than that of the western woman. An average Indian woman is shorter than her western counterparts. In such a situation, she looks way prettier in ethnic wear. The Indian ethnic wear is designed in such a way that it flaunts the beauty of an Indian woman. A western woman will not look just as beautiful in a saree or kurta leggings as that of an Indian woman. The reverse of this statement holds good as well. That is why Indian women prefer ethnic wear as formals while working in corporate offices.
05. Lower Maintenance of Ethnic Wear:
Many women who work in fancy air-conditioned MNCs use public transport to commute to and from work. In most Indian cities, the condition of public transportation is pretty bad. Western formals worn here would crumble and soiled even before the person reaches her place of work. As it is difficult to wash western officials just as frequently as that of Indian ethnic wear. People prefer wearing later for regular workwear.
Moreover, with western formals, one is expected to wear covered shoes (preferably with a few heels). This might not be very comfortable while using public transport daily. Thus, the reason for women preferring ethnic wear instead of western formals is the dull day to day hassle of maintaining the later.
06. To Avoid Being Sexually Harassed:
When someone wears formal western skirts, most of the time it ends above the knee leaving the rest of the legs naked. Indian men have a fetish for bare limbs, and this type of clothing leaves the women subjected to many uncomfortable glances from her male colleagues in the day. Sometimes it goes beyond mere glimpses when random men try to make advances towards her. This sort of thing makes it difficult for her to concentrate on her work and perform to the best of her abilities. Thus, it is for their safety that many women prefer to wear ethnic wear as formals o their corporate offices.
07. Brand Enforcement:
One of the main reasons for the popularity of ethnic wear as formal wear in corporate offices is the effective marketing strategies of popular ethnic wear brands. From a social perspective, the 1990s and 2000s were when a notable increase in the number of women in the corporate workplace was observed. It was around this time that popular brands started advertising comfortable ethnic wear as something that can be worn to the office. Women took to such ad campaigns and with the passing decades and more instances of ethnic wear replacing formal western wear was observed.
RELATED QUESTIONS
What is the Difference Between Indian Formalwear and the Indo Western Formal Wear?
Things like the saree or a salwar kameez teamed with a dupatta would fall in the category of formal Indian wear. These are traditional clothing that was worn by an Indian woman. These days can be seen in corporate boardrooms as well. If you team an Indian dress with something western, the attire becomes Indo-western. Such as wearing a kurta with trousers or carrying a dupatta allowing with your formal shirt and pants. In many cases, Indian women are seen to wear Indo western clothing to corporate offices as well.
Should One Wear Closed Shoes When Wearing Ethnic Formals in Indian Corporate Offices?
If one is wearing a saree or salwar kameez as formal wear in corporate offices, it is not mandatory to wear closed shoes with it. However one should try to wear a shoe that is appropriate, comfortable. It does not make a creaking sound when they walk around. Doing so will make the lady appear professional and go well with her work image as well. However, if someone is comfortable wearing closed shoes or stilettos, there is no reason why she cannot put on the same while wearing ethnic formals at work.
Are All Ethnic Wear Considered to be Formal Enough to be Worn in Corporate Occasions?
Ethnic wear that has a lot of bings is considered inappropriate for formal business occasions. If one is wearing a saree. It will be preferable that the same should be of cotton or silk fabric and must not have too much work all over it. It should not be accompanied by heavy jewelry. Sleeveless or short-sleeved dresses are not considered to be formals. For kurta leggings or salwar kameez, those with a simple cut and without much of glitters or flares are accepted. In either case, the clothing must be of pastel shades, and the pallu or dupatta must be neatly pleated and pinned.
