Indian fashion has evolved over the years
Indian fashion has changed with each passing age. The Indian fashion industry is developing by leaps and bounds, and every month one witnesses one new trend or another. Economic growth in India has also had a great influence on fashion trends. The increasing purchasing power of the middle class made fashion more accessible to the common people. The evolving labor standards have also increased the scope of fashion in the country as there is a marked need for comfortable clothing during long working hours.
Indian fashion trends down the line
To understand how Indian fashion has changed over the years, let’s go back to the last century. In the 1950s and 1960s, the country’s fashion scenario was sexy, elegant and graceful, though not colorless. Designers, models, and fashion design labels were relatively unknown. At that time, the value of a garment was judged by the quality of its fabric, not by its manufacture.
In the 1960s, ladies preferred to wear tight-fitting clothes Cortashigh coiffure and churidars. Coated polyester fabric was popular during those days. The ’70s saw bold colors and bell bottoms grace one’s wardrobe. Bell bottoms have been popularized by the leading representatives of the generation like Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna. By the end of the 1970s, disco culture also began to influence Indian fashion.
The opening of the first Ravissant fashion boutique in Mumbai in the early 1980s marked the dawn of a new era in fashion. The Indian population has begun to identify itself with designers such as Calvin Klein. More designer store options provide Indians with a variety of choices.
In the 1990s, one witnessed the evolution of supermodels and fashion designers creating new designs every day. Clothes became affordable and Indian fashion started spreading its wings globally. With leading ladies like Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai winning international beauty pageants, Indian fashion has been poised to take a giant leap.
Since the past few years, international fashion brands have started tapping into the huge potential of the Indian fashion market. Companies such as Nike and Reebok have made their mark through their mall retail chains. Shows like Lakme India Fashion Week and Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week have provided a great platform for new designers to showcase their talents. In these two events, prominent Indian fashion designers like Manish Malhotra, Ritu Berry, Rohit Khosla and others captivate the audience with their designs and introduce them to new trends in fashion for the upcoming season.
The West also influenced the development of fashion in India. Today, a teenager and an elderly person can be seen wearing jeans. Designers returning after obtaining fashion degrees from abroad have brought a global perspective to the country’s fashion circuit. They also helped introduce Indian fashion to the West. Indian designer brands are becoming increasingly popular among the global audience. At this rate of growth, the Indian fashion market will be a force to reckon with, on par with the Paris fashion world if not more.
