New Salwar Kameez

New Salwar Kameez

The most common design of a New Salwar Kameez you find is long, going below the knees. It is straight and has two slits on either side. The Salwar is flared with a horizontal band at the end. The duppata or scarf is rectangle in shape and worn in front with the sides falling at the back from over the shoulders. This is the basic description of what a New Salwar Kameez usually is. However, with different spheres of time there have been many modifications in this design according to the changing trends.

Silks are considered to be the best fiber that suits the Indian climate. Satins or heavy brocade work is suitable for the winter in India. The zardozi, hand embroidery or lace works often reminds us of the golden era of our imperial India.
Cool cottons make its round each summer with tie and dye prints. There are mulmul specials with or without the odhni. Contrasting styles have also been in fashion with the salwar-kurta-odhni all in a different colours. Designers are inspired to create special collections for bridal wear, Independence Day and also for Diwali festivals. Formal chiffons, organza, taffeta and exclusive silks with work are seen with embellishments, matching accessories like bags and shoes for the bridal season. There are soft shades; bold prints and Indo-western look for parties.

New Salwar Kameez

With each traditional wear has been going through changes and then disappearing New Salwar Kameez retains its feminine charm with newer appeal with designs each season. During a large earlier part of the 1900s, say between the 1920s to the 1960s the women usually wore a short kameez that was somewhere between the hip and the knee. They were generally made from cotton or khadi (jute). Actually the fit resembled that of a long shirt. The difference being that it would be straight with a slit on either side. The Salwar then was widely flared with a narrow horizontal band at the end.
Post 1970s the New Salwar Kameez styles seemed to have expanded to uncountable numbers. In fact very rarely would one come across people wearing common designs and patterns. The variations were in the fabrics being used, the kind of work being done, as well as the cuts. Apart from the straight-cut kameez, there the frock styles of varying lengths – short, knee length, as well as those that flow down to the ankle.

New Salwar Kameez

In fact, Indian ladies felt that this garment was more comfortable and convenient to wear than the saree. Actually this garment primarily hailed from the northern regions of India where the climate was too cold to wear saree. The New Salwar Kameez is also considered as the national garment of Pakistan.