Shalwar Kameez, Salwar Suits, Punjabi Suits, Churidar Kurtis, Ladies Suits – the variations on the famous Indian ethnic outfit for women and girls are endless.
How did individuals from Afghanistan to Tamil Nadu in India adopt a similar style of clothing? Isn’t that an incredible fact?
The History of the Salwar Kameez
The shalwar and kameez were brought into South Asia after Muslims arrived in the north in the 13th century. (From Wikipedia) Shalwar kameez (also salwar kameez and, less commonly, shalwar kameez) is a traditional combination clothing worn by women and, in some locations, men in South Asia and Central Asia.
It is made up of trousers (salwars) and a short or long tunic known as the kameez or kurti. This clothing is worn by both men and women in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In India, however, this outfit is usually worn by young girls and ladies.
Women in the Punjabi society, for example, always wear salwar kameez, particularly in rural areas.
The salwar suit was possibly introduced as a mode of clothing in Punjab due to the influence of Mughal culture.
They rarely dress in sarees. It is worth noting, however, that in the last decade or so, the Southern States of India have also enthusiastically adopted this style of dress.
In other words, rural women in South India, for example, have abandoned the traditional skirt and blouse or saree in favour of the salwar kameez as a more comfortable option.
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Popularity of the Ladies Suit/Salwar Kameez
Not only young girls and teenagers are enamored with the salwar kameez. Middle-aged ladies and grandmothers have mostly abandoned their traditional sarees in favour of the salwar kameez.
In reality, today’s school uniforms have adopted the salwar kameez for young ladies. Many Christian missionary schools in India have changed their uniforms from a skirt and blouse or a pinafore to a salwar kameez for young females in schools.
Afghan school girls
Chennai high school girls
Salwar Kameez Dresses for Women, both Young and Old
Is it because more women are entering the labour market and choose to wear the salwar kameez rather than the bulky saree? Many people currently reserve the saree for more formal occasions. The salwar kameez is a pleasant daily wear.
The popularity of Hindi films, as well as the sartorial tastes of Hindi film heroines, have undoubtedly played a role in this transition. It’s possible that women perceived it as a type of independence from cultural and traditional norms.
The salwar kameez has become a kind of national costume for Indians of all ages.
Furthermore, the women’s ethnic identity is drowned in her new image in terms of her dress style. She could be a Gujarati girl from Gujarat, a Malayali girl from Kerala, or a Bengali girl from West Bengal. She has adopted the salwar kameez to be trendy, modern, and comfy.
Top 5 reasons to wear a ladies salwar suit
The most comfy clothing. Even children find it quite comfortable to wear to school.
In comparison to a voluminous 6 yard saree, it is easier to wear and maintain.
It is a modest clothing that covers a person from head to toe, allowing for unrestricted movement.
There are a plethora of salwar kameez styles to pick from.
It is versatile since it can be mixed and matched.
Salwar Suit Fabrics and Styles
Ladies Suit Fabrics
The salwar kameez and saree are both Indian ethnic wear clothes. Elegant, graceful, and colourful. The cultural and ethnic diversity of India has greatly influenced a wide range of homegrown fabrics and embroidery techniques.
The variety of textiles available in India is simply astounding. Silk fabrics span from south silk to east silk, Tussar silk, Chanderi silk, Banarasi silk, and so on.
In addition, there are kota fabrics, chiffon, georgette, cotton, silk cotton, Chanderi cotton, kora cotton, and so on. Any of these textiles can be used to design a salwar kameez.
Work on salwar suits
Embroidery work, pitta work, resham work, zardozi work, sequins work, gotta work, Kantha work, and appliqué work, for example, can be done on the salwar suit to make it more colourful and appealing.
Salwar Suit Styles
They can be dhoti pants, tulip pants, cigarette pants, sharara, plazzo style, culottes, or churidar pants.
Kurti Styles
And the kurtis can be – A line kurtis, Jacket style kurtis, collared kurtis, double layered kurtis, dhoti kurtis, and so on.
In other words, the styles and designs might be numerous. Pairing the bottom, the salwar, and the kurti, on the other hand, requires a trained eye.
Salwar Kameez
Best Salwar Kameez/Ladies Suit Shops in Delhi
We’ve compiled a list of the top eight ready-made Ladies Suit markets in Delhi. To make things easier, we’ve selected shops in each market.
In the first instalment of this series, we highlighted some of the top stores for casual and semi-casual salwar suits. Heavy and bridal wear suit shops are not featured in this list.
1. Khan Market
Anokhi is one of the top shops in Khan Market. Anokhi dresses are generally made of soft, flowing cottons. The Jaipur style of block printed pastels dominates the salwar sets available here.
While they aren’t exactly vibrant, they are colourful, simple, soft, and lovely outfits. They also sell skirts, jackets, and scarves. The brand is immensely popular in India. The outfits are well-known for their excellent quality standards.
Fab India
Another important salwar suit store in Khan Market is Fab India. They have a superb selection of salwar kameez outfits. Cotton, silk, chanderi, tussar, khadi cotton, banarsi silk, and other materials are available. All natural fibres. They also feature patterns, thin, delicate gold work, and minimalistic embroidery work.
it offer a variety of styles and options. They sell plzzo pants, salwars, churidars, and dhoti pants. In addition, short and long tunics come in a variety of designs and styles.
Then there’s the dupatta or odni, which comes in a variety of colours and textures. You can mix and match the salwars and kurtis if you want. If you want a basic, beautiful, no-frills salwar kameez for business or party wear, Fab India is the place to go.
2. Meherchand Market
This is yet another store that sells Rajasthani cotton salwar suits. Soma creates lovely soft furnishings and salwar outfits in the villages of Rajasthan.
They feature block printed cotton salwar sets in a variety of attractive prints and colours. They also sell ready-to-wear sets and separates, allowing customers to experiment with mixing and matching the pieces. This store sells kurtis, salwars, dupattas, and skirts.
3. Ladies Suit
The State Emporia on Baba Khadak Singh Marg is located in Delhi. They are state-owned businesses. Indian states offer an extraordinary range of textiles, handicrafts, and jewellery, and they advertise their best products through these shops.
For example, in the Kashmir Emporium, one will find salwar sets and kurtis with typical Kashmiri designs in wool, chain stitches, special cchikankari work from Lucknow, Chanderi salwar suits in the Madhy Pradesh Emporium, block printed cotton from Baguru village in the Rajasthani Emporium, Gujarati mirrorworked salwar suits in the Gurjari Emporium, and so on.
4. GK – N Block Market
Kilol- Kilol- is a lovely salwar set and saree shop in the GK N Block Market. Kilol, like Anokhi, is a Jaipur-based store. Block designs in cotton textiles in pink, red, green, and blue dominate their extensive collection.
Subtle and calming salwar suits are highly appealing. In addition, one can shop for sarees and household goods.
5. Ladies Suit @ Lajpat Nagar
Lajpat Nagar Market is a haven for customers shopping for salwar kameez. Salwar kameez items can be purchased on an entire street known as the Salwar Lane.
They carry ready-to-wear and ready-to-stitch salwars in a range of fabrics. There are at least 10 to 15 tiny stores selling salwar outfits. The costs are fairly reasonable, and one may bargain.
Salwar outfits can be purchased for as cheap as Rs600/piece. These are street businesses, so you’ll receive good value for your money. However, Lajpat Nagar Market is constantly packed.
BIBA: Biba is a retail shop on the main road in Lajpat Nagar. It’s a well-known brand for Indian ethnic wear clothes. This brand has many locations in several Indian cities.
There are both simple and fancy salwar kameez sets, churidar sets, and lehenga outfits. While the dresses are not always appropriate for work, they are perfect for casual party attire. The clothes are bright and lively. They also have children’s dresses.
6. Southern Extension Market
Pantaloons at South Extension Market has a selection of simple and elegant salwar sets. They sell both casual and dressy salwar suits. Several designer labels have shelf space in this shop.
As a result, there is a vast range of options available, as well as a variety of styles. The entire ground floor is dedicated to salwar suits. Another significant advantage is that the business sells a wide range of products. For example, in addition to dresses, you can get light jewellery, bags, and shoes.
7. Karol Bagh Market for Ladies Suits
This is one of Delhi’s original markets. As a result, there are many shops in this Delhi Market. Ajmal Khan Road is the main shopping street in this region.
This road is home to all of the branded stores such as Meena Bazar, Frontier Raas, Pantaloons, Bombay Selections, Frontier Bazar, and several others. Ajmal Khan Road in Karol Bagh Market has also been made pedestrian-friendly. As a result, it’s a delight to shop here.
8. Dilli Haat
This is an open-air market near the South Extension Market. This is one of the most prominent markets for Indian ethnic wear garments. For example, salwar kameez and kurtis from several Indian states are offered here.
This market sells Kashmiri chain stitch kurtis in wool, Lucknow chikankari kurtis, and West Bengal tussar salwar suits. In addition, one can shop for carpets, dhurries, fashion jewellery, handicrafts, and furnishings.
In addition, you can eat a basic dinner characteristic of each Indian state in the open air. Above all, it has a village-like vibe.
Dilli haat is an abbreviation for “Dilli Ha
We wish you a nice shopping experience. If you require further assistance, please contact us or leave a remark in the space below.
