Traditional Indian Costumes and Textiles

Evolution of costumes and textile began the day Eve strategically covered herself with the first fig leaf. History testifies that man has been inventing and creating costumes through the ages reflecting the influence of changing times, social life, work style and even seasons. Reciprocal cultural exchanges had affected the remotest tribal belts and the meanest hamlets as far as costumes are concerned. However, very little of the old textile exist these days. Textiles have been produced in India since times immemorial. Our craftsmen had produced textiles of rare quality and costumes of stunning variety which compete with the best in the world at any given period of history India–being a vast sub-continent of strongly contrasting physical features, cultural affinities, political history, religious beliefs and climatic conditions–presents a great platform for the flight of imagination to the costume designers. Plethora of exotic patterns produced by the master craftsmen is a testimony to the heights of their artistic excellence. The informative text part of this volume traces the evolution and history of costumes and textile in India. It dwells upon various styles of embroidery, weaving, painting and printing accompanied by sketches and necessary description. Traditional Indian Costumes and Textile is a lavish presentation of magnificent and enduring art form getting its soul from this great land of the orient.