Talking about Indian women’s fashion, if you have been following this series, I will introduce the alphabet with a dress and a weave. The reason I do that is we already know that there is a garment and the weave is mentioned so that we get to know about the fabric that it’s been used for so that we could also come up with ideas to bring that idea of ours to life. The one that uses the Indian weave for the outfit of your dreams. Because who said you cannot have a haram pant in silk and pair it up with a chanderi tank top layered with a bagru print long shrug and accessorized with kundan long chains? After all, fashion is in the mind of a person who envisions how they would want to present themselves.
Today let us look at the alphabet G.
Ghaghara choli
Having been there for centuries, this traditional and elegant attire that comprises a long skirt, a scarf, and a blouse is the Ghaghara choli. Worn by women during festivities and special occasions this three-piece garment gleams elegance and beauty at first glance.
Heavily embellished with sequins, embroidery, or even stones, the long flowing skirt made of silk or luxurious material is the Ghaghara. A short sleeved tight fitted blouse that is paired is the choli and the midriff is visible since the choli is stitched short.
The choli can be of the same material as the skirt or even different. Depending upon the occasion, it can be amped up with stone or sequin work to look grander in appeal than the skirt. The color could also be the same with contrast work or a fabric that is of contrast color with minimal work would both work great with the Ghaghara. The neck designs also play an important role where it could be as halter, off-shoulder, or even backless. Overall, the choli should complement the long skirt, Ghaghara.
The final element that adds grandeur is the dupatta or the scarf which is draped over the shoulders or even covers the head. Heavily embellished with stones and embroidery the dupatta adds elegance and sophistication to complement the Ghaghara choli.
In addition to being aesthetic, the Ghaghara is also a comfortable garment that provides ease of movement because of the long skirt. The blouse can be stitched to fit perfectly for the body of the wearer.
Gadwal
A lightweight durable fabric that is distinctive and stands out because of its sheen and texture, the gadwal originated in the town of Gadwal, Telangana. A unique blend of silk and cotton threads the gadwal is made of high-quality craftsmanship and has exquisite designs.
In a gadwal saree, the body of the saree is made of cotton threads and the pallu has silk threads. The body and the pallu along with the border are then attached finally to make it lightweight by a technique called kuttu. The interlocking of silk and cotton threads requires precision and highly skilled craftsmanship. Also, to note is the time-consuming process. Owing to the light and airy feel it can be worn in hot and humid climates.
The gadwal is a symbol of Telangana’s cultural heritage and can be worn for special occasions.
Gota patti
An Indian embroidery technique where small pieces of zari which could be silver or gold ribbons being pasted on to the fabrics and then sewed at the end. A lengthy and time consuming process involves a lot of skilled craftsmanship.
When you look through the crowd at an Indian Wedding, I am very sure that you can find a couple of people wearing garments with gota patti. A traditional Indian embroidery technique that involves stitching metallic strips in gold and silver onto fabric with intricate designs the gota patti is used on saree and lehenga.
Prevalent during the Mughal era, it is believed to have originated in Lucknow. The strips known as zari also is now made with different colors like pastels and other hues. The motifs range from floral to paisleys and can also be geometric or abstract designs. Jaipur, Ajmer, Bikaner, and Udaipur are centers of this amazing art of intricate design weaving.
This post is part of #blogchatterA2Z 2023.
That Madras Mom 