What clothes did the Indians wear in the 18th and 19th century?
During the 17th and 18th centuries, India exported vast quantities of textiles throughout the world. The influence of India's textile export may be judged by the number of textile terms in use today which have Indian origins: chintz, calico, dungaree, gingham, khaki, madras, pyjama, sash, seersucker, and shawl are just a few..By far the most prized of Indian fabrics during this time period was Chintz, a cotton fabric usually having a large-scale, floral pattern applied by mordants (a resist dyeing method). For the finest chintz, the design was actually painted on the fabric, not printed. The colors were fast (they didn't fade or wash out). Chintz was used for both apparel fabrics and home furnishing fabrics (drapes & bedspreads) (Irwin and Brett, 1970). Kashmir ShawlsIn the mid-18th century a new accessory was introduced to the fashionable European woman's wardrobe which remained fashionable for almost a century. This was a shawl produced in Kashmir which is located in the northern part of India bordering the Himalayan Mountains. The shawls were originally brought to England by the East India Company, as well as by travelers bringing home gifts.The finest shawls were woven from the very fine and soft hair of a Kashmir mountain goat. (This is the fiber we know today as Cashmere.) The Kashmir shawls were handwoven entirely by men. One or two men would work 2-3 years to produce one shawl. Thismade the shawls very expensive (A Kashmir shawl at that time cost the equivalent of a mink coat today.). However, they were in such great demand that European manufacturers quickly began efforts to try to imitate them. A good source of shawl images and info is Victoriana.Kashmir and paisley shawls can be identified by the use of a certain design motif which in India is called the boteh.After European textile manufacturers began imitating the shawls, the motif began to be called a paisley, after Paisley, Scotland, one of the largest producers of imitation Kashmir shawls (Reilly, 1987).BanyansThe phenomenon of the banyan, a gentleman's loose, long jacket or gown in the 1800's, illustrates combined Japanese and Indian influences. Trade with Japan was open from 1543 to 1640, and then closed until 1854. During the time that Japan was closed to trade, Japanese kimono made their way to Europe via Dutch traders who were the only ones to have access Japanese ports. Because of the rarity of kimono in the western world, it became a valued commodity. Demand quickly exceeded supply. The scarcity of the kimono enhanced its popularity and led the Dutch to manufacture banyans in India where they were highly involved in textile trade and export.The banyan was a loose, full kimono style in the early 18th century, but later evolved into a more fitted style with set-in sleeves, similar to a man's coat. It was known as an Indian gown, nightgown, morning gown, or dressing gown. First used as a type of robe, it was originally worn for leisure and in at-home situations; but came to be worn as a coat out-of-doors, in the street, or for business. Many gentlemen had their portraits made while wearing banyans. They were made from all types of fabrics in cotton, silk, or wool (Cunningham, 1984).For gentlemen, this was a long robe or gown which replaced the tight coat and waistcoat (vest) worn in public. Trade with Japan and India affected the demand for gowns made in the kimono style. The Dutch East India Company was the only trade group to have access to Japan durign this time period. The demand for these garments became so great that the Dutch eventually began manufacturing them in India through their locations there. The Indian Saree (a.k.a. Sari, Seere, Sadi) boasts of oldest existence in the sartorial world. It is more than 5000 years old! It is mentioned in Vedas, the oldest existing (surviving) literature (3000 B.C.) Patterns of dress change throughout the world now and then but, the Sari has survived because it is the main wear of rural India. 75% of the population (now a billion as per official estimate) wear versatile sari. We can certainly call this cloth versatile because it could be worn as shorts, trousers, flowing gown-like or convenient skirt-wise--all without a single stitch!Saree (original--Chira in Sanskrit, cloth) is of varied length. From 5 yards to 9.5 yards tied loosely, folded and pleated, it could be turned into working dress or party-wear with manual skill. For day today dress of middle class women, 5-6 yard sari is comfortable to manage household chores. Working class tucks the same length above the ankles and if they have to work in water or fields, they would tuck the front pleats between the legs to the back, and tie the upper portion round the waist. This left them free movement of hands and legs.
