Bharatnatyam costume

There are different forms of dances in India. Bharatnatyam is the most common form of Indian classical dances. These dances describe movement ideas and they need to be learned to perfect the classical technique of dance. The dancers perform in traditional costumes, accompanied by some traditional instruments and vocal music. They share their views on the commitments it takes to become a classical Indian dancer and the importance of upholding their rich tradition. They describe the vocal with expressive qualities, hand movements and facial expressions. Performing theses dance sequences in traditional costumes with lots of hand work, embroidery accompanied by jewelry and body art.

Like any other dance Bharatnatyam comtume represents the history and tradition of the state from where it belongs. It is brightly coloured silk fabric which contains borders made with golden colored embroidery which explores the bright and rich colors and cultures of Tamil Nadu. The proper dance costume for bharatnatyam plays a big role to make the dance graceful and impressive. These costumes include dress, temple jewelry and make-up, etc. None of these contents can be left in this dance form. The jewelry used in this dance is called the temple jewelry. Similar to other jewelleries it also has Jhumka(earings), Chandra(moon shapred hair ornament),Mattal(forehead),  surya(sun shaped hair ornament), Nathani(nose ring), Bindi, Long and short Mala(necklace), 2 arm bands, Oddiyanam(waist band), ghungroo and chudiya(bangles).

Please visit http://www.bharatanatyamworld.com/ to view different prices of costumes and jewelry for the dance.

Block Printing

Block Printing is an ancient Indian printing technique. The art of these unique print textiles is a labour-intensive, painstaking process that has survived from ancient times to the present because of the beauty of the handmade products. Scraps of cloth found in the ruins of Mohenjodaro, an ancient city of the Indus Valley Civilization, provide evidence that block printing was practiced in India as long ago as 3000 BC.

The art flourished in the 12th century under the patronage of the maharajas. The 17th century saw a revitalization of the art. And still, here in the 21st century, block printing of fabric by hand is an art practiced by Indian artisans for the enjoyment of owners of those fabrics throughout the world.

The process of block printing takes time, team work and most of all skill. The three main tools of a block printed fabric are the wooden blocks, the fabric and the dye. It can take five carvers up to three days to create an intricate design in a block of teak for use as a printing block. The printers may use up to 30 blocks to complete a design. Separate blocks are required for each of the colors used in a design and it is not unusual to have four or five colors in a professional design. It can take twenty people, each doing a separate task, up to eight hours to prepare a single block printed garment. With all this, the results can only be unique.

Batik Dresses

BATIK is a way of decorating cloth by covering a part of it with a coat of wax and then dyeing the cloth. When the wax is removed the contrast between the dyed and undyed areas makes the pattern. The word “Batik” translates to 'wax writing', 'to dot’, or 'drawing with a broken line'.  It is a three-stage process of waxing, dyeing and de-waxing multiple times in order to achieve a desired design. The characteristic effects of batik are the fine cracks that appear in the wax, which allow small amounts of the dye to seep in.

The history of Indian batik can be traced as far back as 2000 years. The revival of batik in India began in the 20th century when it was introduced as a subject to study at the famous University of Shantiniketan in Kolkata. Currently batik printing is done in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Kolkata, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.

The main materials used in this craft are wooden printing blocks, dyeing vessels, plastic bucket or big bowls, brushes, frame or table.

Kids traditional - Chania Choli/ Ghagra Choli

The time has changed when parents would choose outfits for their kids and they would just wear them. Nowadays kids have become greatly choosy about their outfits. Even parents want their kids to look the best in their outfits. The preferences and their choices play a major role while shopping for the kids, be it is their casual shopping or for some special occasion. Festivals such as Navratri bring intense energy and liveliness in the environment and kids also get excited. The stunning designs and incredible patterns add colors to the overall festival season!

Fashionable kids Chaniya Choli are famous nowadays, but the traditional people also have a lot of choice in the form of the traditional designs and patterns. These dresses are typically designed for festivals with gaudy colors with embroidery of beads, pearls, shining stars and shells. The Indian outfits are traditionally colorful and attractive. Dresses fantastically decorated for the kids of embroidery, thread work, painting, mirror work, beads and needle work are the perfect attire that the kids love. These Chaniya Choli are not limited to the festival of Navratri, but they can be used for other occasions like marriages, cultural programs, school functions and even birthday celebrations and they are not very costly. Finding the best Chaniya Choli for the kids is not at all a big task in the local market. 

Anarkali Suits

Anarkali was one of the most famous court dancers of the Mughal emperor Akbar. Akbar’s son Salim fell in love with her. He loved to see her perform her dances in a typical dress that resembled plain umbrella patterned skirts at the bottom and an embellished choli or blouse at the top. This ethnic wear was made most popular, perhaps by our popular bollywood actress Madhubala who herself performed the role of Anarkali in the film 'Mughal-e-Azam'.

Designer Anarkali Suits are the best picks for Diwali, Dusherra, Eid and all major festivals thanks to the elaborate embroidery. Featuring traditional silhouette, Designer Anarkali Suits reveal conservative styling that’s in keeping with the conventional beliefs of the festival. Designer Anarkali Suits feature longer hemlines and thus look best when made of soft, wispy and flowy fabrics such as net, chiffon or georgette and usually reveal an inner lining of satin or crepe. Designer Anarkali Suits are also made of rich and heavy fabrics such as brocades or velvets. However, these do tend to be quite voluminous and best suits slim, tall and athletic body types.

Menswear- Sherwani

There is a huge variety of menswear for every kind of culture in India. All the ethnic menswear is unique in their cultural ways and often easily available in India’s marketplace.  A few examples are Dhoti kurta commonly worn in West Bengal, Jodhpuri suit in Rajasthan; Kurta Pajama usually wore in almost every other culture. Pathani suits are mostly worn by Muslims and people in Delhi. Finally, the Sherwani is commonly wore in weddings in different cultures of India.

Sherwanis are a common choice for South Asian men to wear. They are definitely traditional for Indian men and are richly designed. They are often worn over a kurta and may also be worn with a dhoti or stole. The new generation of Sherwanis also known as the Indo Western Sherwanis are a coat like attire of knee length and body fitted. You have to get proper measurements done to ensure that the Sherwani is flattering to the body.

There are unique ways to wear the Sherwani as they have also been a mark of prestige and nobility for men and are mostly worn by men on formal events and weddings. The work done on Shervanis also differs as they are made with embroidery work to give them a lavish appearance.  There are also brocaded patterns added to them to enhance the decorative appeal.  They can also be simple or printed depending on what you like the most. These Sherwanis can look elegant and luxurious when accompanied by some traditional accessories such as jewelry, dhoti or stoles.

The fabrics used to make these Sherwanis also vary depending on personal preference. The most popular ones are silks, satins and jacquards. Eventually the costs of these sherwanis also depend on the material and the decorations. The method of sequin or embroidery work may also affect the price.

Most of all you need to learn how to take care of them as they are not like your normal casual wear; they need more care. They have to be dry cleaned to preserve any fabric or ornamentation from damage. More pricey Sherwanis, such as the silk ones, cannot be worn in rain without adequate protection and avoid spot damages. They may be ironed to smooth out the wrinkles and finally stored in a way that does not fold the material.

Gujrati Attire

Intricately embroidered and exquisitely stylized, the Gujrati attire is simply eye-catching. Dazzling with vibrant colours, flooded with striking mirror work and stunning jewellery it is one of the most alluring customs in India. The mirror work and embroidery work forms an integral part of Gujrati handicrafts.

The creativity of mirror work lies in the colourful framework of stitches that hold these special mirrors (having variations like hand-cut antique mirrors, machine-cut embroidery glass and flat sequin mirrors) to the fabric. The darker the colour of the base fabric is, exotic the embellishment look in the final outcome.

The traditional dress for women in Gujarat is the lehenga choli or ghagra choli