Since the advent of civilization, humans started wearing clothes to cover their bodies. What began as small leaves of trees used to cover the private body parts, soon led to clothes being woven to include more than that.
Over time these were stitched to produce clothing of the form we see today. With materials like that of wool, they knitted instead of stitched.
Post the Industrials Revolution, mills and factories started manufacturing a significant chunk of the clothing.
Despite the changing nature of apparel and its manufacture, it remained an undeniable fact that its cultural heritage and climatic conditions influenced the dress of a place.
That is one of the main reasons for the enormous differences among Indian ethnic wear and that of western wear.
Things like the saree, salwar kameez, and the lehenga are known as the Indian ethnic wear. Trousers and shirts are a classic example of western wear.
All other pieces of clothing that grow the shirt and the pants (like that of blazers, ties, bow ties, scarfs, etc.) fall under the category of western wear. In the case of women, skirts and pencil cut dresses also fall under this category.
This article talks about the different types of Indian and western wear and highlights the difference between the two. It also elaborates how in today’s era of globalization, these two different types of outfits can hold their stands.
Indian Ethnic Wear:
India is a land of culture, and every state has different traditional clothing. That is particularly true in the case of women. Even in countries that wore the same dress, such as the saree, the styles of draping it varied greatly.
For women, on the other hand, the ethnic clothing remains unaltered as we travel through the lengths of the country. It might be called the panache in some places and dhoti in others.
However, the basic style of draping remains unaltered. During the freedom struggle, the people of the nation developed a sense of collective identity. Post-independence, women of a particular region were wearing ethnic dresses from the different areas of the country with equal ease.
01. Salwar Kameez:
The salwar kameez is the most popular ethnic wear today and owes its origin to the state of Punjab.
02. Saree:
There are multiple variants of the saree, depending on the state is sworn in.
03. Lehenga:
The lehenga is an adaptation of the traditional ghagra choli and makes for ideal festive wear. Although the Lehenga originates in the state of Rajasthan and Gujarat, similar variants of this (called the dhavni) are worn in the South as well.
These are usually worn in bright shades and often have a lot of sequence or embroidery work in it. They are available in silk, georgette, and chiffon fabrics.
04. Kurta:
The kurta is the preferred clothing for Women of all faiths. The kurta may be of solid color, printed, and have embroidery or thread work in it.
Many workplaces have ‘ethnic day celebrations’ once in a while, and most women are seen to wear kurta at such places.
Western Wear:
When talking about the Western world, we take a more significant amount of the geographical area of the earth in question. The affinity of the average Indian to these types of clothing was initiate in the colonial era and continues to hold good even today.
Post the liberalization of trade in July 1991, more and more international western wear brand came to be readily available in the Indian market.
Trousers and pants, which are an essential aspect of western clothing, can be worn by both men and women. Women, there has an additional privilege of getting to wear some other types of clothing as well, and that will be spoken about in the following points.
01. Denim Jeans:
Jeans are one of the most famous pieces of clothing on a global scale. They fall under the category of casual apparel and are appropriate for women.
The fact that they are rough and tough and do not get soiled easily is an added advantage. These days, jeans are available in multiple cuts and shades, and ones that are whitewashed or torn considered to be in high fashion.
02. Trousers:
Trousers are also unisex clothing that is formal. That is the preferred dressing option for business meetings across the globe.
03. Skirts:
There are a lot of options concerning the skirt, and they may range from the most formal ones to ones that are fit for wearing to a beach.
04. Dresses:
The dress is versatile clothing from the western side. As the length and cut of the dress vary, it can be ideal for wearing for a whole host of occasions.
While ankle-length prom dresses are suitable for formal night parties, one may wear the casual A-line cut dresses on a casual outing. The loose flowing maxi dresses make excellent beachwear and can be wear in casual outings in the city as well.
RELATED QUESTIONS
What is the Difference Between Formal and Casual Wear?
Relaxation, comfort, and informality are what lies at the central focus of casual clothing. It gives a person a lot of freedom to indulge in personal expression.
That is why these days, one would find several graphic tees and hoodies in the market. One is free to make a pick from amongst those choosing what suits their taste.
Formal wear, on the other hand, is more specialized and is worn in ceremonial events, formal dances, business meetings, and other events of the likes.
Here the focus is on looking sharp and being in a position to stand tall for you and the organization, firm, or country that you represent.
In the Indian setup, most places have an etiquette for the dress code, whether you should turn up in formal or casual wear.
Do the Older Generation Prefer Indian Ethnic Wear and the Younger lot Go for Western Wear All the Time?
It is a myth that younger people do not like wearing ethnic wear. Many brands are launching new ranges of ethnic wear (like Manyavar starting Mohey) that dare targeted on the younger generations.
Similarly, colonial ideas influence some people from the older generations, and they like to wear classic western formals whenever possible.
Thus, one must realize that the preference for choice of clothing is very personal. It is unfair to impose that on a person depending on the generation he or she was born in.
Is western Wear Dominant Over Indian Wear?
Since western wear clothing is more of a preference in terms of regular wear, we see people wearing them more often. Indian wear saved up exclusively for special functions like that of weddings and other festive occasions.
However, it is essential to understand that the cost of one festive outfit is equal to that of seven or eight regular wear outfits.
In such a situation, annually, an average Indian ends up spending as much over ethnic wear as they would on their western wear. Thus, it will not be fair on our part to say that the market of one is dominant over that of the other.
Conclusion
The difference between the Indian ethnic and western outfit symbolizes a cultural difference that is near impossible to bridge.
Admittedly, these days several fusion outfits symbolize the coming together of the different Indian and western schools of thought.
While all of that is necessary to live in a globalized world, no one can take away. The fact that the individuality of the Indian and western outfits remain their identity even today.
Nice Article, really loved the way its being written. Well done. We are also trying to promote Indian traditional and ethnic wear. Let me know if any chances or collaborations.Appreciate if any help !!