Arts & Culture

The brilliant skill of Ikat weaves which is passed on through several generations has garnered prominent attention all across the world. Pochampalli Ikat which is quite popular amongst the women clan for their exquisite Ikat printed cotton and silk weaves has derived its name from a small town of Pochampally near Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh. The art of weaving cotton and silk silhouettes with peculiar dyes of Ikat is believed to have been brought from the Chirala town to Pochampally. It was earlier called as “chit-ku” in Chirala. While there are innumerable speculations regarding the origin of fabric which is...

   Source: Pinterest Jutti is the expression of Indian heritage as well as modernity. The traditional footwear in India which have their history since 200BC. Have their origin from the Mughal era. Jutti's has been transformed from a traditional Footwears to a tailored ethical must have They are round or M-shaped covering the front part of the feet. During the Buddhist period, strapped sandals were quite prevalent. Later, these ethical shoes became popular in north India, especially Punjab and Rajasthan.   Juttis of Rajasthan: Rajasthan is one of the most prominent tourist places, as the colors and culture fascinate the visitors....

    India is known for its culture, and clothing is the essence, of which, one of the decent evergreen outfits is Salwar Kameez. No matter what the occasion is, salwar Kameez is the sign of pure elegance in Indian ethnic wear for all ages. It is originated from the Mughal era with a classy combination of salwar(bottoms/ long loose pants) and the Kameez( tunic/ top). The regalia is a prominent part of every Indian woman’s wardrobe. With time various styles have evolved customizing the original genre. Here are five esteemed salwar kameez style that you may prefer to wear:  ...

  Preparing for her wedding is the most joyous time in the life of a woman. It is the culmination of many cherished dreams nurtured since her earliest years and a springboard for her anticipation of a blissful union with the man of her dreams.  In fact it is a dream come true for every girl to be a bride and begin a new chapter of her life with a man who understands, respects and cherishes her for exactly who she is. And especially if they are an Indian couple their sacred union is sealed not just with a kiss,...

When we regard the magic of the six yard drape that is the quintessential attire of most Indian women, we are filled with pride and wonder at the journey of this unique untailored garment. We admire the grace of the Indian Saree, praise its elegance, marvel at the varieties and take pride in its uniqueness. And though we do give equal attention when picking its ever faithful companion, the designer saree blouses, little do we know of how this inseparable raiment came to acquire its place of pride and present form as today. Let us take you on this interesting...

For most Indian women one of the most exciting aspects of dressing up in Indian Ethnic wear is the range of vibrant colors and vivid hues that they can choose from. While most Western Couture is defined by a limited range of palettes that are considered season appropriate, Indian Ethnics have no such limits. You can pick any color for any part of the year and no Pantone color of the year is going to stop you. Indian women wear is a delightful break from the monochrome monotony of western attire and offers that in a range of palettes to...

The history of Indian culture goes back to a thousand years, to the roots of Mohenjodaro and Harappa, lands of Madras and valleys of Kashmir. The silk saris with intricate patterns carry stories from old times. The pashmina shawls that are weaved from handpicked fibers that are entwined with delicacy and care into strong, long-lasting fibers. The traditional clothes of a land are the true reflections of its culture, rituals, and mannerisms. Indian textile history can be traced back to the times of Indus Valley civilizations. The concept of wrapping around a piece of cloth came from mythological figures. Goddess...

The traditional pattu sarees of South India have garnered the attention and popularity in the other parts of the country. Thanks to the muted hues of white and gold, el classico sarees that are making huge waves in the B-Town and paraphernalia. The soft and subtle silk saree in graceful white and gold combination compliments the dusky Indian melanin façade. Thereby, women are largely investing in these quintessential festive must-have ethnic wear. Regardless of your age, height and stature, these much-coveted saris have found a place in every celebrity wardrobe. For instance; Sonam Kapoor sashayed with her clan wearing these...

  The age-old practice of crafting beautiful colourful silhouettes worn by womenfolk since times immemorial is called as bandhani. The expression of design element practised largely in the bylanes of Gujarat is called as bandhuvan which is derived from the word “bandhan” meaning to tie. The people who are engaged in crafting and producing designs out of the tie-dye technique are called as “bandhej” The vibrant hues and flair of a tie and dye root back to the pre-historic times even before the hippie movement gradually paced in the early 1960’s and 1970’s. The tie-dye evidence heralds back to the...

Kashmiri embroidery which is also called as the Kashida embroidery is a unique form of art, staying true to the beauty of paradise state. The exquisite needlework and thread work that involves a single long stitch to make the design is indeed one of the most distinguished and beautiful forms of embroidery. Only a few expert artisans and craftsmen were able to pull off the gorgeously intricate handcrafted Kashida embroidery which required an eagle’s eye and extreme patience. The practise of Kashida embroidery began in the early 11th century at the small cottage level, however, over the years, it grew...

The gorgeous weave of Chanderi silk which is a famous textile tracing its roots in the heart of India; Madhya Pradesh. This dates back to as early as the 7th century and 2nd century B.C. Ashok Nagar being the central location for the world-famous hand loom Chanderi silk. The central region witnessed the maximum production of chanderi silk and rose to proximity in the 11th century to the arterial ports of Gujarat, Malwa, Mewar and Deccan regions. Chanderi silk further rose to popularity in the 12th and 13th century when the Royals began wearing this traditional attire. Made of real...

The most versatile fabric with a soft sheen, light-weight and crinkled texture is obtained from the silk primarily. Crepe is long known for its extremely soft, suave and sensuous appeal with a wrinkled appearance due to the unique weaving and knitting process by twisting the thin filaments of silk or any fabric. Cotton, rayon, chiffon are mostly used these days to create crepe which is why it is difficult to decode the base fabric of crepe silhouette. What is Crepe Fabric Chinese crepe fabric is the original textile which has a softer texture and endows a flowing graceful fall. This...

The word “Chikan” is believed to be taken from different etymologies since it has different meanings in different languages. For example: in East Bengal the word Chikan meant fine, in Persian, the word Chakin or Chakeen means crafting delicate patterns on a fabric. It is a popular belief according to the people that the word means distorted since Chikeen or Siquin which means Rs. 4 and the artwork is sold at a cheap price. History of Chikankari Embroidery Chikankari is a delicate art of crafting intricate shadow and designer type of embroidery which was usually performed on the white yarn...

Romancing with the opulent and eloquent forms of fabric which trace their root back in the 18th century when the rulers of Mughal empire and Kings used to adorn their palatial forts with zari embroidered drapes and stitched the royal metal thread work clothes for the entire family. The most luxurious form of embroidery employing the real form of gold and silver thread work to finely craft the silhouettes showcasing designer motifs and natural expressions are largely likened in the Indian subcontinent. These heavy works intricate embellished zari threadwork featuring the gorgeous semi-precious stones and pearls to add the beauty...

It is said history repeats itself and it is no different for fashion! Indian fashion is as ancient as the human civilization with a mix of regional, cultural and historical influences. The fashion in India or anywhere else in the world always repeats itself in a decade or two bringing neoteric twists to the current fashion. Our generation is influenced by the world of fashion so much so that it has become as essential as food and water. And mind it, it is not just wearing clothes we are talking about but the ever evolving and changing fashion trends which...

The word “Phulkari” traces back to its Punjabi origin which implies “floral artwork”. Back in the times when the household women sat idle and rested peacefully during the day, their vested interests to express their thoughts and worldviews came into the picture through sheer artwork of Phulkari on a khadi piece of cloth. Sewing their imaginations coupled with the nature’s beauty, surrounding or conversation between a mother and a child was immaculately tapped through needles and thread. History and Origin The contemporary haute couture was brought to the Central Asia by the Jat community post the devastated partition of India...

The extraordinary beauty of Kalamkari art reflected through sheer historical tradition depicted in paintings, murals, handcrafted textiles resonates the deep cultural-connect permeating the very essence of social values, morals and societal status. The word Kalamkari is an amalgamation of two hindi words where kalam stands for pen and kari means work. The dainty strokes of this traditional Indian art date back to the Roman era from where the fragments of Kalamkari block-printing cloth were first found in the archaeological sites of Egypt. Later, the historical evidences further show that the Kalamkari art shreds of evidence were also extracted from Coromandel...

We don’t call weddings in India “BIG FAT INDIAN WEDDINGS” for no reason, weddings are a grand affair in the country spanning over several days of splendid celebrations with music, floor breaking dances, colorful rituals and splendid outfits! Every religion and region brings specific and unique Indian wedding traditions and customs that are of utter importance. Indian parents start planning for the marriage of their daughter and son from the day they are born and teach them how important this lifetime relationship is. It is a big deal for a girl since she will have to leave her parents’ home...