U in Indian women fashion

The Indian women’s fashion trend depends on weaves and garments and how women carried themselves. Women in films whom I would say were the first role models we look up to even today for fashion inspiration. Though at times like today, we have social media at our fingertips, when we refer to a trend, we most often mention the name of the celebrity who sported it.

Urmila Matondkar

The ‘Rangeela’ girl as we know her made all of us even women who went in awe looking at her on screen. Be it her beauty or hair, the costumes she wore had a lot to speak about. Manish Malhotra, the designer also mentioned that there were copies of her costumes post that movie on every street. The movie that made him win the Designer of the Year award. Her designs in the movie ushered in fashion trends and became a style statement.

The peplum skirt, knotted tops, black saree, and red leggings were an instant hit among the womenfolk of the country. Her smart casuals looked very glamorous and became a trendsetter. Her gharchola and the bandhani in the song made the weave much more famous and preferred for the ghaghra. Her tangerine skater skirts, the pleated skirts were such a hit. Though it is nearly 28 years since the movie was released, the trends she set are still timeless and are great fashion inspiration for a confident woman.

Uppada

Tracing back its origin to the 18th century, when the country was ruled over by the East India Company, the weave is from the Uppada town in Andhra Pradesh. A traditional handloom technique is known for its intricate designs and fine texture; the weave is a testimony to skilled craftsmen.

The Weaver population from Uppada migrated to Peddapuram where they happened to learn the weave of Jamdani from the Bengali weavers. They incorporated their techniques into jamdani which brought out a new weave called the Uppada. It is lightweight and the sheer texture gives a grandeur look and is most sought after for making traditional garments.

The weavers take great pride in their artistry which is time-consuming, complicated, and labor-intensive. A diverse range of patterns with motifs that include nature and geometric designs in vibrant colors make the weave unique. Gold and silver zari threads are used for extra richness to the woven fabric. The intricate designs and elaborate borders on the pallu are the highlight of the uppada weave. The metallic thread in the body adds grandeur to the fabric.

Another unique feature is the texture of this weave which is lustrous and has a sheen which is because the warp is made of pure mulberry silk and the weft is a combination of silk and cotton that is responsible for the shine.
The uppada weave has received the GI tag from the Government for its uniqueness and authenticity which is another reason for its boost in the global retail market. It is a weave that is cherished by the connoisseurs of handloom textiles and is even passed through generations as an heirloom.