Bangladesh research- Salwar Kameez
Salwar Kameez
- The outfit comprises a pair of trousers (salwar) and a tunic (kameez) that is usually paired with a scarf (dupatta). In recent years, the salwar kameez has become a popular form of attire among Indian women throughout India as well as in Singapore.
- The salwar kameez is a traditional outfit worn by Punjabi women. It comprises a pair of trousers known as the salwar and a tunic called the kameez. Traditionally, the salwar trousers are tailored to be long and loose-fitting with narrow hems above the ankles that are stitched to look like cuffs. Punjabi men also wear the salwar, but they pair their trousers with a shorter tunic known as the kurta, which is the male version of the kameez.
- The traditional kameez top is a loose-fitting, knee-length tunic with long sleeves. The tunic is worn by pulling it over the head through a round neckline that has a front slit.
- The salwar kameez is usually paired with a long, sheer fabric scarf or shawl known as a dupatta, which is either draped across the neck or over the head. Decorative patterns may also be embroidered around the neckline, sleeves, hems and side slits of the outfit.Modern varieties
The modern versions of the kameez are usually sleeveless and tend to be more tight-fitting than the traditional outfit. In addition, the kameez is no longer always paired with a salwar, with some women today choosing to wear their kameez tops over Western-style jeans, skirts and pants.
Like other forms of dress, the length and width of the salwar kameez has been influenced by fashion trends. The width of the trouser cuffs on the salwar has ranged from as wide as 30 cm for the “pantaloon” look to as narrow as 10 cm for “harem” pants. The length of the kameez has also varied from between mid-thigh during the “mini” craze to well below the knee during the “midi” phase.
Cultural significance
The popularity of the salwar kameez among young Indian women is linked to societal changes. Traditionally, Indian girls would switch to wearing the sari when they got married, which was usually soon after puberty. But as women in India began to marry later, they faced a new dilemma of what type of dress to wear while they were still single adults. They could no longer wear the attire of their childhood but did not feel quite ready yet to wear the sari. Thus, they turned to the salwar kameez, which was seen as a suitable outfit that met their modesty requirements.
For many Indian women today, the salwar kameez is regarded as a functional outfit that suits their modern lifestyle needs better than the traditional sari. Unlike the sari, the salwar kameez does not have strong associations with tradition nor does it evoke anxieties of learning how to properly wrap and drape the outfit. In addition, its ease of wear allows women to move about more freely at the workplace.
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