Various reasons for western influence on the Indian apparel and costume
industry:
Open-minded culture coupled with cultural diversities:
India is a multilingual country inhabited by multi ethnic groups. The
best part being each group has its own unique style and type of dresses and
costumes. Indian Fashion designers are known to interweave these diverse
fashions and lend an amazing Indian touch to them.
Winning of beauty pageants on international platforms:
In recent years, Indian women have been doing the nation proud by winning
many international beauty pageants and naturally their style of dressing has
highly influenced the ladies fashion /ladies apparel industry in India. The
dresses donned by these participants are a blend of Indian and western wear.
Commoners openly ape their role models and this eventually becomes the
latest fad in the general fashion wear industry in India.
Indian Movies - a big influencing factor
Indian movies are known to leave a lasting impression the minds on
Indians. In fact it affects everyday lives. People blindly emulate what
their role models are wearing. And with movies following the western
patterns of dressing it is natural for the ordinary folks to imitate them
lock, barrel and stock.
Wide scale impact of Globalization and Liberalization:
Indian imports from the west have also made it easier for Indians to keep
a track on the latest fashion clothes and accessories ruling the Western men
and women’s wear market. Incidentally, Indian fashion industry has been
drawing even western buyers. Needless to say, the fashion fraternity in
India have willingly adopted western designs keeping in mind both the Indian
and western sensibilities. Furthermore, liberalization has led to the
beaming of western soaps that hinge around western style of living. The
Indian denizens have taken a liking for such soaps to such a great extent
that they don’t mind adapting the social and cultural changes and western
lifestyles as well.
Overseas Education and employment opportunities:
The craze of going abroad and pursuing higher degrees has also brought
about a perceived change in the fashion and lifestyle of young Indians.
Indians consciously imitate the western style of living so as to make
themselves attune to the lifestyles of the foreigners, so in case if they
need to travel abroad they find it easier to adjust and move on with their
lives. Moreover, employment opportunities have also attracted many young men
and women to leave Indian shores and make a living for themselves in foreign
lands. This naturally calls for a change in fashion style to suit the
foreign sensibilities.
Use and throw concept:
Street wear concept developed in west and no doubt is slowly catching up
in India as well. Street wear mainly involves low-priced clothes that cold
be worn a couple of times and then discarded. Street wear is considered
economical as opposed to the Indian traditional clothes that involve fine
cotton, silk, etc. Street wear are produced in bulk and sold at the cheapest
rates.
The sum and substance being the Indian fashion scene is completely under
the influence of the west. The concepts and designs have been effectively
intertwined into the Indian Fashion Industry.
http://www.made-from-india.com/
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Andy Dicosta
