The Worldly - A World Culture Web Magazine and 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization

Traditional Indian clothing has long been appreciated for its appealing style as well as its suitability to the regional climate. Because the weather is usually warm or hot in India, clothing must be made from light materials. This necesity resulted in beautiful, airy, and flowing traditional garment styles. As you will see, the same appealing elements of traditional Indian clothing can be incorporated into clothing of a more modern nature.

Pictured here are two Indian youths dresssed in traditional garb. The young man wears a kurta - a thin shirt with a low, straight-cut neckline and roomy sleeves that protect from the sun while simultaneously allowing the skin to breathe. A kurta, paired with with pyjama trousers, was the main form of clothing worn by males in India's past. The young woman is dressed in a salwar-kameez. Many people are familiar with the traditional embroidered Indian sari worn by Indian women. The salwar-kameez is another popular traditional outfit. It consists of a long tunic drawn in at the waist and tapered at the end, worn over pyjama like trousers that can be either loose-fitting (salwar) or tight-fitting (churidar) as depicted. Covering her head is a traditional, think garment known as the dupatta. As you can see, clothing for males is designed for comfort, and for females, clothes are designed to cover the body while simultaneously accentuating the natural shape of the body.

Here we see how cultural clothing, with simply a modern spin, can borrow from the best elements of tradition and thereby preserve them and present them in a way that a contemporary audience can appreciate. The male youth wears a kurta with modified sleeves and collar. The sleeves are still wide, the material still thin to allow for maximum comfort. The collar still dips down low, but now it folds over and forms a "V" shape - the norm for modern western men's cothing. The pants can undergo less change and still look great while sercing their purpose.

Like the sleeves, they are still light and airy, cutting off at the shins for even more comfort. The modern take on the salwar-kameez is equally fashionable. The timeless shape of the tunic remains unaltered. Although it covers much of the body, it hugs curves in a tasteful manner that is timeless. A more contemporary print or design is all that is needed on the tunic for a modern affect. The churida also remains largely unchanged, save for a little extra flare in the bottom of the pants to simulate the style that works so well with jeans. As you can see, the tight-fit of the churida makes a little flare look good here too.