Today,
fashion does not necessarily mean glamour or the need to follow current trends.
It is more a way of life where a person reflects their inner beauty with
comfort. Fashion in India has evolved through the centuries.The traditional
Indian clothing with regional variations -
sari, ghagra choli or dhoti - remained popular till early decades
of post-independence India. Indian Fashion particularly includes a series
of sequins, embroidery and gold thread to attract customers and is common in
dresses made for weddings and special occasions. India
has a rich and varied textile heritage, where each region of India has its own
unique native costume and traditional attire. Indians can choose from the best
of East and West as Indian fashion designers are inspired by both Indian and
western styles with fusion being their hallmark. Indian motifs are regularly
used on western outfits like gowns, skirts, tops and pants to achieve a unique
blend of the East and West.
Fashion
plays an important role in an individual’s life because it serves as a means
of self-expression. The clothes that men or women wear help them identify with
a certain group of individuals. Every
person has an inner desire of looking good and feel accepted in society. Women
are taking to fashion in a big way and are experimenting with different looks,
styles, and textures.
It
is a widely accepted fact that the rich and the famous,political figures and
royalty have always moved the seasonal trends of fashion. The media also
contributes equally to update us about the latest trends. Fashion
trends keep changing and most fashion divas and models are the first to make
them. Today’s youth is a major follower of fashion trends. Fashion trends are also
influenced by Bollywood and Hollywood. Metros like Mumbai and Delhi witness the
fast changes in fashion especially among the college going crowds.
Fashion
designing offers vast opportunities for learning with famous institutes like
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Indian Institute of FashionTechnology (IIFT), Pearl Fashion Academy (PFA), etc. Many Indian universities
offer diploma, graduate and postgraduate courses in fashion and cosmetic
designing. Such learning helps improve the creative skills and provides a
cutting edge technology in designing. Fashion
has become a growing industry with international events such as the India
Fashion Week and annual shows by fashion designers in the major cities of
India.
