Salwar Kameez as we know it today has come from many origins and traditions which have been molding them in perfect style and types as we know it today.
A Popular & comfortable dress worn by the women of Punjab is the Salwar Kameez & traditionally it was the dress worn in Punjab. In Pakistani Culture, Shalwar Kameez is the national dress of the country. First, let us know what is shalwar and kameez?
What is Salwar? A shalwar is a form of baggy trousers. Transliterations starting from Urdu, Lahnda, Persian, Pashto, Turkish languages use “sh”. The salwar is the spelling most commonly used in India. Transliterations starting from Punjabi often render the sibilant sound at the start of salwar/shalwar as an “s”.
What is Kameez? The kameez or qamis is a shirt of varying lengths. Garments cut like the kameez are known in many cultures. The word kameez is originally an Arabic word and is therefore also spelled with a Q, as in Qameez or Qamis.
The first influence on Salwar Kameez:
Mughals Culture:
Mughals were the first ones to bring the concept of salwar kameez as we know it today. The Men & Women of the Mughal Empire wore beautiful and expensive clothes made from the finest materials and adorned themselves with jewelry from head to toe.
The garments of Mughal ladies were made of the finest muslins, silks, velvets, and brocades. The muslins used for their clothes were of three types: Ab-e-Rawan (running water), Baft Hawa (woven air), and Shabnam (evening dew). Muslins called Shabnam were brought from Dacca and were famous as Dhaka malmal.
Inspired by Mughal’s Costume, created a creative concept of salwar kameez and a design concept that adds unique touch in attire. Salwar kameez can be in many styles & types.
Portrait of a Muslim girl from Sindh, showing a method of wearing ear and nose rings, necklace, and anklets Full-length standing studio portrait of a Muslim girl from Karachi in Sind, Pakistan, taken by Michie and Company inc. 1870.
A Pakistani concept of Salwar Kameez. The kameez can be of varying sleeve length, shirt length, necklines. The drawers can be straight-cut shalwar, Patiala salwar, churidar, pajama, or trouser. The dupatta is an essential part of the shalwar kameez ensemble and is considered a symbol of a woman’s respect. It is used with different embroidery designs of Kamdani and Gota.
The influence of Pakistani style in modern-day trends. It is wearable on occasions like weddings, festivals, and parties.
Second influence Salwar Kameez:
Punjabi Costume:
Punjabi style salwar kameez are full of color with different embroidery & embellishments. The Kurta is a kind of loose shirt which can be long or short and straight-cut. A Salwar Kameez has two pieces of clothes- the Kameez, or shirt that is the top piece; and the Salwar, (pants) or bottom piece. A Dupatta is a piece of colorful cloth that women wear around their necks like a scarf. Salwar Kameez’s and Dupattas come in a variety of colors and designs.
Different styles and designs are inspired by Punjabi customs. Punjabi salwar kameez is easy & comfortably worn on any occasion and easily carried the whole day.
Salwar kameez came out from so many traditions & worn in so many cultures in many forms and style because they are easy to carry out and carries respect with them.