A touch of the traditional

Apparently, going back to your roots can be fashionable. Stores in the City have started to stock up on ethnic prints, fabrics and embellishments — but interestingly, these aren’t restricted to traditional wear.

In fact, a lot of youngsters have started to sport western, contemporary outfits with ethnic touches. The most popular fusion statement are shirts, which sport paisley prints, tie-and-dye patterns and even traditional embroidery.

Stoles, scarves and pyjamas, though, aren’t far behind. Students and young professionals love flaunting these sort of statements because of the sheer novelty of it. Besides, they are perfect for a variety of occasions, lend themselves well to different accessories and combine the contemporary cuts and silhouettes of western clothing with the timeless beauty of ethnic fashion.

Shruthi, a student of St Joseph’s College of Commerce, admits that such attire has become a common sight on campus.

“I’ve seen a lot of people wearing these sort of fashion statements. Generally, people opt for printed shirts, which they team with a simple pair of jeans. They might accessorise the outfit with a long chain or a large pendant. Mango-shaped paisley print — in different sizes and colours — is the most common,” she says.

Ethnic embroidery, she feels, isn’t as popular as the prints are, possibly because of the cost factor. “But ethnic prints are definitely in. They are subtle and have a classy appeal,” she adds.

Others stick to ethnic prints because they prefer steering clear of sober, safe statements. In fact, a dupatta or brightly-printed jacket can enhance practically any top or tunic.

Sharanya, a professional, believes that traditional prints can add a dash of colour to an otherwise dull outfit.
“I love stoles in ethnic prints and fabrics — you get really pretty ones made of raw silk in a variety of bright colours like fuchsia, mango-yellow, orange and peacock blue,” she shares. “I generally wear jeans and tee shirts in uniform colours, so adding a stole like that definitely lifts the entire outfit. Besides, there’s a certain gracefulness about ethnic prints that one can’t find with western clothes,” she reflects.

However, Ranjini, a professional, points out that trying to combine different sorts of fashions can be a tricky
business. “I have noticed this trend — professionals tend to wear it to their workplaces on casual days. It’s nice, but I don’t think it’s everyone’s cup of tea,” she says doubtfully, adding, “Fusion dressing isn’t all that easy and doesn’t suit everyone.”However, she admits that it’s tough to go wrong with a safe statements like a printed stole. “People also team jeans with a printed dupatta — it’s quite common and looks very nice,” she states.