Jennifer Joseph's Blog – May 2015 Archive (21)

India is a source of some of the most intricate and exquisite jewelry in the world. Indian jewellery designs combine high quality materials such as gold and uncut diamonds with meticulously crafted patterns; the end result is something truly unique and dazzling in its look. At one point in time, the traditional forms of jewelry in India were only available to the…

In Indian culture, two things hold sway above all else: Bollywood and cricket. When it comes to fashion, obviously, the sports world has little to offer. Here, Bollywood is the major influencer and is responsible for many of the changing fashion and style trends in ethnic fashion. Bollywood not only introduces various designer trends but…

Party wear sarees, as the name suggests, are sarees that are meant to be worn for parties and are, therefore, slightly glitzy in nature. When it comes to stepping out for a party, however, just getting your outfit right is not the only thing you need to do to make sure that you end up turning heads during the get-together. You also have to make sure that your entire ensemble looks flawless by ensuring that you have the perfect accessories and shoes to accompany…

Indian suit designs are famous all over the world because of their ethnic nature and the fact that they can help creating an extremely unique and identifiable look quite easily. An Indian ethnic garment is worn globally not only by Indian women but also by local women living abroad as the garment is not only interesting but also highly comfortable. Most Indian suit designs incorporate different forms of embroidery such as chikankari, gumthee and…

Indian jewelry is known all over the world for being works of art as opposed to just accessories to a dress. Indian ethnic jewelry is known for its ornate, intricate work, elaborate usage of precious metals, and many a times its confluence with precious and semi-precious stones make it all the more enthralling. The fashion industry is focused on creating stylish yet ethnic jewelry pieces for not just parties and formal events but more for weddings and milestone…

The neckline is an extremely important part of any salwar kameez. It can be crucial in determining the aesthetic of the outfit, not just in terms of the fit and silhouette, but also in terms of the design. Salwar kameez neck designs should therefore be carefully chosen after due consideration of various factors. Different necklines would be suitably based on the occasion and desired aesthetic. Here are the key types:…

The kurta is a traditional garment worn in India by both women and men. Traditionally, it started off as a garment intended solely for the men’s use. It was brought here many centuries ago by the Persians, who quickly popularized it as a casual wear garment across the Indian sub-continent. The design and style of the kurta has evolved over the years. Nowadays, men will find a variety of kurtas, including many modern types, which have a unique indo western vibe.…

One of the prettiest and most trendy Indian accessories is the bangle. Indian bangles have taken the fashion world by storm. Within a decade or so, they have gone from being alternative, hippy accessories to an important constituent of mainstream western fashion. A large part of this is due to the popularity of the bohemian chic look and the increasing trendiness of all things Indian. Though bangles jewelry has become very popular, a lot of people don’t really…

In India, you can find a truly dizzying array of textile and embroidery styles. These have been embraced by high-fashion designers, who love using ethnic patterns for decorating all types of fashion accessories. It includes handbags and purses. One of the best ways to induce gorgeous ethnic charm to any outfit without going over-board is to carry an Indian designer handbag. These designer handbags are just as luxurious and glamorous as the western varieties, but…

Sarees have become immensely popular across the world today.  They are available in many traditional and modern varieties. Despite this burgeoning popularity, not everybody knows how to pull off a sari. What most people don’t realize is that choosing a beautiful sari is not the sole derivative; the latest saree blouse design is equally important as it can…

Tussar Silk, also spelled Tassar, is referred to as Wild Silk in India. It is one of the most favored among the silk fabrics in India. The fibers for Tassar silk are obtained from the cocoon of the wide-winged moth. The moth like its cocoon is yellow in color. Therefore, the resulting Tussar silk fabric is gold in color, generally speaking. Not much is known about how, when or where Tuusar silk was actually discovered however, silk itself has been a part of…

One of the most luscious forms of silk that can be found in the country is known as Mulberry silk. This fabric is as old as the Indus Valley Civilization in India. It is extracted from the cocoon of the Mulberry tree silk worm and the quality of the fiber is extremely fine. The color of the fiber is pale or off-white due to the food source of the Mulberry silk worm. Sericulture for Mulberry silk is centered in five states across the country, namely Karnataka,…

Cambric is a cool fabric that is made from cotton and was discovered in a city called Cambrai, for which it was named. It is translucent and light while also being a very dense plain-weave textile. Initially the uses of Cambric were restricted to making linens and lace for trimmings along with using the fabric to make shirts and under-shirts for men.…

Originating in West Bengal, Tant sarees are one of the most traditional sarees in the country. It is made from cotton fibers and is light weighted and has a slight translucent quality about it. The manufacturing of Tant sarees is spread across the state and even permeates into the neighbouring country of Bangladesh. One of the biggest selling points of this saree is its affordability. Therefore, it is a preferred garment for daily wear among the working segment…

Brasso, or the ‘burnt out fabric’ as it is also known, is a wispy and gorgeous looking fabric that has been an invention of the modern world. Indian fashion wear items like Brasso sarees, Brasso salwar kameez and Brasso lehenga cholis have been on the Indian fashion scene for quite a while.…

Jacquard is a lightweight translucent fabric with an intricate weave that has a pattern woven into it. The weave of the fabric is very fine and a special loom is used to produce this fabric, much like the ones used to produce Damask or Brocade. Because of the very nature of the fabric, it is considered fashionable and therefore is apt for parties, whether formal or informal. Salwar kameez, sarees and lehenga cholis made from this fabric are considered as some of…

Known to most people as ‘artificial’, faux is actually a French word for the same. This can refer to fabrics as well as all other materials like metals or stones and more. The concept of using faux materials came about in a big way in the late 20th century and since then has become a very big deal in the fashion industry. The whole premise of faux is that it imitates the look of its authentic counterpart but is much cheaper to produce.…

Satin originates from China and was originally a weave derived from silk. One of the most expensive fabrics of the time, Satin derives its name from the Arabic name for the town in which Satin was first discovered i.e. Quanzhou. The name Satin, refers to the weave of the fabric and not any raw material. Due to the rich look and feel and exquisite texture of the material, Satin was preferred by royalty. It became exclusive to royalty because the masses could not…

Lace is a thin and light patterned fabric that can be produced by machines or by hand. The process of production is intricate and involves meticulous process like looping, braiding and twisting threads. Lace is often made from one of three materials- silk, cotton or rayon and it has a distinctive pattern on in. The distinction of lace from other fabrics is the gaps in the weaves interspersed with solid patches where the designs demand it.…

Fine Cashmere wool that comes from Kashmir in India, the word ‘Pashmina’ is derived from ‘Pashmineh’ which means ‘made from Pashm’ in Persian, where Pashm means wool. The fabric was brought to India via Ladakh by the Iranians and is known better as one of its products, the Pashmina shawl. The wool for Pashmina comes from the Changthangi goat which is only…