shalwar kameez

Shalwar kameez or salwar kameez is national pakistani dress worn by both men and women.
this traditional dress of south and central asia was originally a persian dress and due to proximity and weather conditions in india and pakistan gradually became popular in what in now india and paksitan.

shalwar kameez history

during the early era of mughals there were major cultural shifts were happening then in india many adaptations were being introduced in popular indian attire and shalwar kameez or salwar came to india.
originally it was being worn by nawab or elite of then indian society like nawabs and maharajas along with the sherwani and gradually became the part of masses attire.
in the beginning it was a very rough and wide dress with kameez being long and shalwar or salwar being wide with different type of width based on area like in punjab it was preferred to be worn with wide pajama or shalwar and in north with narrow leg pajama called churidar.

Shalwar kameez in culture today

in contemporary indo-pak culture today it has become of symbol of change as to prove how things evolve from being a normal dress to a perfect fashion statement.
it is still being worn in all three modes like for casual or day to day wear, formal and special ocassions specially for women it is part of their being a woman.
todays shalwar kameez is a fashion statement designers have really worked tirelessly , addition of elements like contrast pipin, elegant and intricate embroideries
and long dupattas had made sure it still remains a preferred mode of attire for a pakistani man and woman.

historically an average shalwar kameez dress used to be made with cotton fabric whereas now a days crafted with very expensive fabrics like banarsi, jamavar
and silk chiffons are being used a base fabric of the dress.
due to pricing concern most of the population get their dress made themselves, first they buy fabric then go to a dyer to get it colored then
go to the tailor to cut it , then forwarded to a embroidery shop for embroidery then comes back to tailor for stitching, and an average shalwar kameez is ready.

shalwar kameez fashion

there are Punjabi salwar which has heavy gathers and more width and in worn with short kameez normally,
there is another variation called churidar pajama, which is like skin tight pajama and have gathers in bottoms.
Dupatta is also part of Pakistani Indian shalwar qameez dress , for women dupatta sometimes serves alternate to hijab ,
for women that is used to cover the head while in temple or in presence of elders.
dupatta actually represent modesty, for some it is just an stylish accessory to be worn on shoulders.
these days new versions of shalwar kameez has came up and they can be less modest, kameez cuts may have deeper neckline,
worn with see through fabrics, or styled in cap sleeves or sleeve less, kameez chalks may be higher and worn with shalwar low on hips.
Originally in India dress was mostly worn in north, but as an alternate or sari and also beingsuitable to various body shapes it came as a modest alternate to Indian sari, now it hasbecome popular all over India.
if dress is intended for formal occasion then it is heavily embroidery, some times embroidery done on dress can take up to a month to be completed.