DISCOVERING FASHION IN INDIA: CITY VS. COUNTRYSIDE

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Introduction

While fashion is a form of expression for who you are, it is also a way to showcase where you come from. For me, being Indian is a large part of my identity, and I have been able to discover various parts of my culture through clothes and fashion.

After spending a week back in the home country, living in the city and traveling to the countryside, here is everything I’ve learned about how Indians approach fashion in the city vs. in the countryside.

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It’s common to see dozens of shops selling clothes in the city. Showcasing pieces like Kurtis, saris, and Western attire attract thousands of customers everyday.

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The City

India is a diverse country. The deepest parts of the city and the most traditional countrysides often live right next to one another and are intermingled as people travel back and forth constantly. However, there are key differences between the two when it comes to the way people dress on a daily basis.

With the large commercialization of products in cities, people often have access to a variety of clothes, including traditional Indian attire, like saris, and Western attire, like jeans and t-shirts.

It is also common to see small fashion businesses thriving in the streets of cities, selling Western and Indian attire, as the dense population is willing to try and buy anything. This large variety and access to clothing means that city fashion is extremely diverse in India.

It is likely that you will drive past a group wearing a multitude of styles, including traditional saris, designer saris, a pair of jeans and a shirt, dresses, and even nightwear, like lungis (for men) and nighties (for women).

A lot of fashion in the city also depends on the location and occasion.

For example, at fancy restaurants, you are likely to see women wearing silk or designer saris. At temples, you are likely to see men in veshtis and women in traditional saris. On a day-to-day area, like at a bus stop, you are likely to see more casual items like Kurtis and jeans.

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Working all day in the countryside requires simple and comfortable clothing, often with a covering for the head to avoid heatstrokes.

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The Countryside

The countryside, on the other hand, also has a diverse array of options, as most travel to the city to buy clothing. However, you’ll find that most countrysides in India prefer traditional wear.

While it’s common to see small businesses selling Western clothing in the cities, it’s more common to see more traditional styles being sold in the countryside.

For example, at the entrance of temples or on the sides of the road, there are often small street shops that sell glass bangles, hair clips, or jasmine flowers for your hair, as these things denote tradition in India. While you can still find these shops in the cities, they are the main “fashion” related shops in the countryside.

It is also common to see more comfortable clothing in the countryside.

The material of saris are often softer and lighter and designer items are a rarity as most people in the countryside work labor-intensive jobs. From farming to cutting coconuts or working outside all day in the heat of the sun, it is important that those in the countryside wear comfortable clothing that is also safe and lightweight for the sun.

Here, comfort and traditional often take precedence.

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Conclusion

India is a large country, and the divide between the cities and countrysides showcases one aspect of India’s diversity in fashion. From traditional saris to Western wear, you can see it all here, and there’s still more to learn along the way.

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