When we talk about the colors of India, we get the image of women's clothing. A range of colors that seems impossible. Who couldn't hang out looking at their dresses?

We summarize what they use.

SAREE

It is the national dress of the Indian woman, also used in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

While its 5,000-year-old, it remains the most identified garment with India today, whose existence originated in the Indus Valley. It is a mixture of influences from Greece, Persia and Central Asia.

A saree is an unsewn fabric, with a length of four to nine meters and a width of 1.20 that can be used in various styles. The most common style is the one that wraps around the waist, with one end turned over the shoulder, showing the abdomen.

The Persians were the first to introduce the art of sewing in India. Loose jackets were introduced from Central Asia into the deserts of Rajputana and the plains of the Punjab and Ganges. Following the example of this, women in India will look to wear a short stitched jacket to cover their upper torsos, which adjust to become the current choli.

It was also the Persians who introduced the custom of embroidering fabrics with pearls and precious stones adopted by upper-class women.

Formerly the fabrics were dyed with totally natural materials, with turmeric, indigo, walnuts, flowers, woods. The most luxurious wore gold and silver threads. In modern times, saris are increasingly woven on mechanical looms and made from artificial fibers.

Handwoven and decorated saris are much more expensive and are still popular for weddings and other large parties.

There are varieties of saris that locate the social and hierarchical level of their wearer and even in the region from which they are used. There is a particular color according to the occasion: Hindu brides wear it in red, while green is for Muslim women. White is used to represent mourning.

PARSI GARA SAREE

The Gara Saree is a saree that has a separate category, considered the diamond of the sarees, it is the dream of each indian woman to wear one day. 

It is the legacy of the Parsi community to India. The Parsis are "those who came from Persia" and today they represent a small and exclusive group, of great economic power, residing mainly in Mumbai.

These ancient merchants brought the best silksfrom China, creating an embroidery that emulates the oriental technique. Parsi embroidery is made with pure white silk on dark fabrics in black, purple, red or green. The designs generally have beautiful floral and bird motifs, inherited from Chinese mythologies.

SALWAR KAMEEZ

Another popular garment is salwar kameez, most commonly worn by single women. It consists of loose pants (the salwar) narrow at the ankles, crowned by a blouse (the kameez). It is complemented by a dupatta (veil) to cover the head and shoulders. It is the most used garment in Pakistan, for both men and women.

LEHENGA

Lehenga is the traditional clothing of women in Rajasthan and Gujarat, consisting of a long pleated skirt that is worn with a choli.

Women wear different styles ranging from plain cotton for everyday use to fully embroidered lehengas worn during marriage ceremonies.

If you want to purchase any of these garments, don't miss out on entering here to buy directly from Indian brands:
DRESSES

See how you can use a saree in different styles

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