Human cultures evolved through a continuous exchange of ideas, belief, habits, and forms. Dressing habits in particular constitute a fertile plain in which this exchange takes place. The traditional attire evolved over centuries, reflecting religion, ethnicity, geography, cultures, climates as well as communities in India. This essay paints a picture of clothing during the colonial period in India. Before the advent of Europeans Vastra is a Sanskrit term meaning a cloth or a garment. The term holds a significant cultural and historical importance in India. In fact, every region in India has its own distinct clothing styles. Although most of the figures and sculptures in India suggest that clothing in general was scanty. Nudity did not bear a sense of indecency. Women wearing a blouse with a sari had only become known after the 10th century but more defined during the British rule in India. But why did the attire of Indian women change? It was because the British came up with the notion of ‘shame’. They considered exposure to be inappropriate according to their European standards. This led to the encouragement of women adopting a more covered attire to fit with the imposed colonial norms of modesty. From Unsewn to Sewn clothes – Sari’s Colonial turn Saris specifically, differing in terms of fabric, draping style, and decorative elements. The cultural contact between India and British regarding the clothing styles can be divided into the Company period and British rule in India. During the company period, the influence of clothing style travelled more from India to England. Specifically, the Chintz prints which were adopted for full gowns. Whereas during the nineteenth century people began adapting Western clothing. It was the wealthy Parsi community that first took up to adapt the British attire. Women and men traditionally wore unsewn cloths. It was a common practice among the ordinary people to wear unsewn garments like langota, dhoti, gamucha, lungi, turban and the draped sari for women. The change started within the aristocrats, high ranking Indian officials and men from wealthy families.Women wore the choli a sewn blouse or a petticoat, which they removed while cooking food……
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