Scarves and shawls are said to have originated in the times of the Roman Empire, where they were the favourite neckwear of the aristocracy, as well as the commoners. The scarf has undergone a great many alterations and variations since its time of conception, and has expanded into a large range of styles, patterns, materials, and ways in which it is worn. The scarf today is a multi-purpose style-statement-cum-wintertime-accessory.
However, as popular as the scarf is in the Western world of fashion, it seems to be only slowly catching up here in India. It is perhaps not in our nature to view a scarf or shawl as a fashion accessory, owing to having been ingrained in the Indian culture, albeit in differing forms (for example, the hijab and the dupatta, worn for cultural reasons rather than aesthetic ones). The Western trend of the scarf purely for the purpose of beautification has only recently been introduced into our society.
However, this ‘It’ accessory of the year 2013 has slowly been catching on, and the reasons are both varied and simple – it serves a function of providing warmth, making it a convenience in colder times; it can be paired with almost any kind of attire, owing to the large variety of scarves and shawls available for any clothing style, be it Indian or Western; the combination of style and functionality, coupled with the ease with which one can be worn, makes the scarf the most efficient fashion accessory that a woman can own.
When contextualizing the scarf in the Indian scenario, there seem to be two outcomes of this accessory gaining popularity amongst Indian consumers. Having always have been a part of the Indian attire, in addition to the large number of scarf and shawl types and varieties available courtesy Western fashion, we happen to have our own collection – inspired by the Indian dupattas. Chiffon, silk and cotton scarves and shawls are swamping the market, in a variety of vibrant colours and patterns, with a truly Indian flavour. Paisley-print cottons; embroidered silk scarves; buttery pastels in chiffon; they’re everywhere you look. You’ll meet with infinite variety, if you’re looking to add some oomph to your outfit, Indian scarf style.
Furthermore, the burdensome dupatta, more of a necessity than a style statement to be paired with your traditional salwar-khameez suits, can now make way for its modernized, fashion-worthy counter-parts. Accessorize with a paisley-print cotton scarf – whether it be with a tank-top and jeans, or a plain ¬salwar¬ suit is completely up to you. If the dupatta be a necessity, why not make it fashionable too?
Scarves may not be as huge an accessory as bags or shoes or jewellery are right now, the way it may be in the West. But contextualize them in the Indian scenario, and you’ll find that we’ve been right-ont-track with the trend all along, in our very own desi style.
However, as popular as the scarf is in the Western world of fashion, it seems to be only slowly catching up here in India. It is perhaps not in our nature to view a scarf or shawl as a fashion accessory, owing to having been ingrained in the Indian culture, albeit in differing forms (for example, the hijab and the dupatta, worn for cultural reasons rather than aesthetic ones). The Western trend of the scarf purely for the purpose of beautification has only recently been introduced into our society.
However, this ‘It’ accessory of the year 2013 has slowly been catching on, and the reasons are both varied and simple – it serves a function of providing warmth, making it a convenience in colder times; it can be paired with almost any kind of attire, owing to the large variety of scarves and shawls available for any clothing style, be it Indian or Western; the combination of style and functionality, coupled with the ease with which one can be worn, makes the scarf the most efficient fashion accessory that a woman can own.
When contextualizing the scarf in the Indian scenario, there seem to be two outcomes of this accessory gaining popularity amongst Indian consumers. Having always have been a part of the Indian attire, in addition to the large number of scarf and shawl types and varieties available courtesy Western fashion, we happen to have our own collection – inspired by the Indian dupattas. Chiffon, silk and cotton scarves and shawls are swamping the market, in a variety of vibrant colours and patterns, with a truly Indian flavour. Paisley-print cottons; embroidered silk scarves; buttery pastels in chiffon; they’re everywhere you look. You’ll meet with infinite variety, if you’re looking to add some oomph to your outfit, Indian scarf style.
Furthermore, the burdensome dupatta, more of a necessity than a style statement to be paired with your traditional salwar-khameez suits, can now make way for its modernized, fashion-worthy counter-parts. Accessorize with a paisley-print cotton scarf – whether it be with a tank-top and jeans, or a plain ¬salwar¬ suit is completely up to you. If the dupatta be a necessity, why not make it fashionable too?
Scarves may not be as huge an accessory as bags or shoes or jewellery are right now, the way it may be in the West. But contextualize them in the Indian scenario, and you’ll find that we’ve been right-ont-track with the trend all along, in our very own desi style.