Monday, May 05, 2008

India 60 years 60 words FASHION Industry

India 60 years 60 words FASHION Industry
Ever since the human existence on earth desire of “different Look” has traveled a lot with the socialization and civilisation of human beings on this planet and still is in pursuit of its constantly changing ultimate destination. Fashion in nothing else but is expression and presentation of self with unique, isolated and different looks in innovative, attractive and impressive style.
In the Vedic era this desire was intended to find its destination with leather skin of wilds, feathers of flying and shells from the marine life. There was a time for this desire to get expressed in artistically designed gold ornaments with the glitter of pearls and diamonds. Finely crafted crowns, designed to prove temptation and unique texture has given a specific identification and royal status to many ornaments which not only proved previous and beyond time but still are the foundation stones for the faculty of fashion which in the modern times has shaped into an industry of billions and billions turnover. This desire of different look was also with time of finding expression with the footwear; history is still recalling footwear of Cinderella, Hair styles were also the area where this desire has found space to get expressed and it was a time when every Indian girls was looking for Sadhana cut or the recent interest in long hairs of young Indian wicketkeeper M S Dhoni shown by a large section of young boys. Dhoni’s hair style was such unique that even Pakistani President Parvez Mushrif was forced to spoke words of praise. One aspect which always provided the hottest, central and most elegant space for the expression of this desire is the clothing of human beings.
Traditionally fashion industry was limited to textile, Jewelry and footwear but in last one century or so cosmetics have also become an important constituent of this business of multi billions turnover. The most recent addition to this industry of “different look” deals with the totality which not only includes the above four but also stress for the behavioral postures. Physiques of human beings are homeland of emotions hence surely expressing the same situation with different body postures be called the fashion style.
Cloths are neither just meant to protect body from the adverse climatic conditions nor just the homeland of fashion style but in fact the way in which cloths are used by different races, castes and creeds of human world have become identification mark also for caste, region and nation. “Burka” a long cloth covering body completely is identification mark for the Muslim women. “Gandhi Topi” a specific head wear, is the identification of India, though in the modern times very rare in use by common Indians. If we consider the last sixty years in fact India has lost identity with cloths only because urban population is eager to cope with the international fashion trends hence Dhoti, Kurta Paijama, Ghaghra choli, traditional Rajasthani Pagadi or Kolhapuri Pheta have become restricted to remote villages and in the cities are the ceremonial wearing for some specific occasions and few days of the year.
Textile sector is the second largest employment generating sector, after the agriculture and generated employment for about 35 million people directly and creates employment opportunity for another 50 millions by the ways of activities related with the textile industry. The most recent trend seen in the clothing world of India is the increasing attraction for the readymade garments and stylish undergarments or the inner wears. Indian night wears, silk sarees, bathing towels, bed covering and other bedroom related textile products have not only shown an increase in demand at domestic levels but also become major share in the textile export of the country. In the past one decade the size of fashion industry has grown four times.
It is now not abnormal to locate a fashion designer even in the small Indian cities. Tarun Tahiliani, Ritukumar, Rohit Bal and Manish Malhotra are few names from the long listing of Indian fashion designers.

No comments: