Clothing in India

History--
India's recorded history of clothing goes back to the fifth millennium BC in the Indus Valley Civilisation where cotton was spun, woven and dyed. Bone needles and wooden spindles have been unearthed in excavations at the site.[2] The cotton industry in ancient India was well developed, and several of the methods survive until today. Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian described Indian cotton as "a wool exceeding in beauty and goodness that of sheep".[3] Indian cotton clothing was well adapted to the dry, hot summers of the subcontinent. The grand epic Mahabharata, composed by about 400 BC, tells of the god Krishna staving off Draupadi's disrobing by bestowing an unending cheera upon her.[4][better source needed] Most of the present knowledge of ancient Indian clothing comes from rock sculptures and paintings in cave monuments such as Ellora. These images show dancers and goddesses wearing what appears to be a dhoti wrap, a predecessor to the modern sari. The upper castes dressed themselves in fine muslin and wore gold ornaments[5] The Indus civilisation also knew the process of silk production. A recent analysis of Harappan silk fibres in beads have shown that silk was made by the process of reeling, a process allegedly is known only to China until the early centuries AD.[6] Kimkhwab is an Indian brocade woven of silk and gold or silver thread. word kimkhwāb, derived from the Persian, means "a little dream", Kimkhwāb, known in India from ancient times, was called hiraṇya, or cloth of gold, in Vedic literature (c. 1500 BC). In the Gupta period (4th–6th century AD) it was known as puṣpapaṭa a, or cloth with woven flowers. During the Mughal period (1556–1707), when kimkhwāb was extremely popular with the rich, the great centres of brocade weaving were Benares (Vārānasi), Ahmādābād, Surat, and Aurangābād. Benares is now the most important centre of kimkhwāb production.[7] When Alexander invaded Gandhara in 327 BC, block-printed textiles from India were noticed.[8][9][10]

According to the Greek historian Arrian:[11]

"The Indians use linen clothing, as says Nearchus, made from the flax taken from the trees, about which I have already spoken. And this flax is either whiter in colour than any other flax, or the people being black make the flax appear whiter. They have a linen frock reaching down halfway between the knee and the ankle, and a garment which is partly thrown round the shoulders and partly rolled round the head. The Indians who are very well-off wear earrings of ivory; for they do not all wear them. Nearchus says that the Indians dye their beards various colours; some that they may appear white as the whitest, others dark blue; others have them red, others purple, and others green. Those who are of any rank have umbrellas held over them in the summer. They wear shoes of white leather, elaborately worked, and the soles of their shoes are many-coloured and raised high, in order that they may appear taller."

Female clothing;- In India, women's clothing varies widely and is closely associated with the local culture, religion and climate.

Traditional Indian clothing for women across the country in Indian includes saris worn with choli tops; a skirt called a lehenga or chaniya worn with choli and a dupatta scarf to create an ensemble called a ghagra choli; while many south Indian children traditionally wear Langa_voni.[citation needed]. Across India, saris are traditionally worn by married women although in areas such as Rajasthan and Gujarat, for example, the chaniya choli (as it is called there) is worn by all ages. In many rural parts of India, traditional clothing is still worn today due to ease of materials, comfort and accessibility. Jewellery is hugely significant for Indian men and women. Men traditionally wear rings with stones or necklaces, and for women, there is an assortment of jewellery that includes maang-tikka, earrings, nose rings, necklaces, bangles, waist chains, anklets and toe-rings - these all form part of the traditional Solah Shringaar for married Hindu women. A Hindu religious mark called a tilak is usually applied with sandalwood or vermillion between the eyebrows - and as such the modern iteration of the tilak known as a bindi is also worn.[citation needed] Indo-Western clothing is the fusion of Western and Subcontinental fashion. Other clothing includes the churidar, gamucha, kurti and kurta, dhoti, lungi and sherwani.

Clothing in India varies widely depending on factors such as region, climate, religion, and culture. India is known for its diverse textile traditions, including richly embroidered fabrics, intricate weaving techniques, and bold prints.

Traditional clothing in India for women includes sarees, salwar kameez, and lehengas. Sarees are long pieces of cloth draped around the body, while salwar kameez consists of a tunic (kameez) worn with loose pants (salwar). Lehengas are long skirts often paired with a blouse and dupatta (scarf). For men, traditional clothing includes dhotis, lungis, and kurta pyjamas.

Western-style clothing is also popular in urban areas, especially among younger generations. However, many Indians still prefer traditional clothing for special occasions such as weddings and festivals.

Different regions in India have their own unique clothing styles. For example, in South India, women often wear brightly colored silk sarees, while men wear dhotis and white cotton shirts. In Rajasthan, women wear colorful ghagra cholis (long skirts and blouses) and men wear turbans and dhotis. In Punjab, men often wear brightly colored turbans and kurta pyjamas.

Overall, clothing in India reflects the country's rich cultural heritage and diverse traditions.