Salwar Kameez and fashion

As an outfit, salwar kameez is appropriate for any age and the rich tradition of Indian embroidery made it fit for any occasion as well. Women of any culture or region can add to her beauty by the gorgeous style and feminine potential of Salwar-Kameez. Indian salwar kameez has thus become one of the most flourishing and popular attire. Colleges going young girls in particular are fashion conscious.

Chiffons are in great demand in the summers, and so is cotton. Most contemporary salwar kameez may not have the traditional hem. The hem may be cut diagonally or given a non-traditional shape. Lighter shades including pastels in georgettes are contemporary. Prints and checks in fawn, pink, and yellow make a cool collection of contemporary outfits.

Contemporary Salwar Kameez:

The contemporary salwar kameez is far removed from the traditional salwar kameez in fashion and design. The contemporary outfit follows the latest trends set by the fashion industry. The Bollywood film industry in India in many ways is a trendsetter.

Embroidered Salwar Kameez:

Embroidery has always been an inseparable part of the salwar kameez. Most salwar kameez meant for formal and semi-formal occasions are treated with an elaborate dose of embroidery.

Most common among Embroidered Salwar Kameez the hand Embroidered Salwar Kameez with booti work. This type of Embroidered Salwar Kameez consists of simple patterns representing plants, leaves and flowers. Chikankari salwar kameez too have flowery patterns, but they are typically designed with predominant white threadwork. Mirror work comprises small mirror chips that are embroidered on the salwar kameez. These mirror chips form the hub around which the embroidery pattern develops. Moti work consists of small rounded beads stitched to the fabric as part of the embroidery pattern. A number of colored beads are used to create a colorful pattern.

Other forms of embroidery used on the salwar kameez are: cufdana work, dori work, dubka work, gota patti , kasab work, katha work, kundan work, parsi work, patch work, resham embroidery, sequins work, sippy work, sitara work, stone work, thread work, zardozi work, and zari work. With such a fascinating range of embroidery to choose from one could build a substantial wardrobe of embroidered salwar kameez .

Printed Salwar Kameez:

The fascination for salwar kameez is an unending process for those who get used to this apparel style. The variety that includes embroidered works and an array of printed styles binds the wearer to the salwar kameez. Printed salwar kameez are used as both semi-formal and casual wear. Prints too, like embroidery, come in various print types.

The bandhej print salwar kameez comprises the use of the tie and dye method of printing. The areas of the fabric that are not to be dyed in a particular color are tied with a string. The fabric then is dipped in a heated cauldron of liquid dye. Block prints are a popular form of printing. A pattern is designed on a wooden block, and then using vegetable or synthetic colors these are stamped on the fabric. It is also known as hand printing. Geometric prints consist of geometric designs like triangles, squares or rectangles or a collage of these shapes. Like the bandhej print, lehriya print too originated in Rajasthan (India).

Abstract prints represent the modern style where abstract art designs are used. Computers have made the abstract art form more popular, for these designs can be made on the computer with ease using various color combinations. The other print styles in use are the flower print, golden print, kalamkari print, and the weaving print styles.

Salwar Kameez & Fabrics

Numerous fabrics ranging from Cotton, Chiffon and even Jute have been used for Salwar Kameez. However, it is Cotton which has remained the most popular fabric due to its comfort and versatility, especially in apparel items, in the hot season amongst the Indian women community. It is comfortable to wear, durable, cool, sweat absorbing, light weight, multi color dyed, multi shaded etc.

There are many types of cotton salwar kameez that can be found in the market

• Pure Cotton Salwar Kameez: This is made of seed-pod of the plant of cotton, silk fibre in their raw state from cotton plant. It is pure cotton and made from raw cotton and after implementing the procedures it becomes cotton fabric. It has a feature of shrinking on first wash. Nice and cool to wear, good for hot season and does not effect on the skin like other synthetic clothes. There is no match for cotton kameez salwar in respect of comfort, designs and cost.
• Khadi Cotton Salwar Kameez: khadi is fine, viscose-blended cotton. There are so many qualities in khadi cotton. Khadi cotton has a big role in designer's cotton salwar kameez these days. Some myth are that cotton is out of age and fashion. The khadi cotton kameez salwar is a symbol of simplicity.
• Mix Cotton Salwar Kameez: This is not pure cotton. It has ratio of 50% cotton and 50% synthetic cloth. This treatment gives stiffness to the cloth and there is no shrinkage on first wash. The compositions with cotton may be with tericott, wool, silk or any other fabric.
• Other Cotton Salwar Kameez: There are so many names that are famous in the cotton cloth market like South Cotton, Ahmedabad Cotton, Crush Cotton, Rajasthani Cotton etc. In these types of cottons there is undoubted difference which depends upon the proportion to form the cotton fabric but basically the cotton has one origin.