Myriad's Modesty in the Spotlight

Discover the details of the cultures and concepts that have inspired some of our beautiful garments.

Modesty in the Spotlight

Salwar Kameez

The Salwar Kameez (pronounced Shalwar Kameez) is made up of a salwar (pair of long pants) and a kameez (a long loose fitting shirt). So it is effectively a suit and is often referred to as a Salwar Kameez Suit when translated into English. It is a unisex outfit, being worn by men and women. The main visual differences between male and female versions are the use of pattern (male versions often focus on solid blocks of colour) and the addition of the dupatta (a very long, wide scarf) added to the female version of the outfit.

The salwar kameez is the national outfit of Pakistan and is worn extensively by people of all faiths and ethnicities in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Afghanistan, some parts of Iran and mostly is worn by Muslims in Sri Lanka. The outfit has also followed various Indian diaspora communities around the world, and so are commonly found in countries such as Fiji or in the West Indies where there are significant populations of people with Indian heritage.

It is also a very common outfit style in the West. Being made up of a pair of pants and a long shirt (which varies in length depending on style and culture), it is an easy to wear, comfortable and attractive suit that has been a staple in the West in various forms, since the Beatles!

What is interesting is the gradual adoption of the salwar kameez throughout subcontinental India. For example, Bangladeshi and Nepalese women have traditionally worn the ever-elegant sari. However, saris are over 8 meters of material, and so are often heavy and hot to wear. This may be ok if you also have servants or family to support you getting dressed, but it is not practical in today’s society where those supports are more difficult to find. Likewise, most women are now forced to work for money or to support family businesses etc. And saris are a difficult garment to move about in freely. As such, many women in modern Bangladesh and Nepal have shifted to wearing salwar kameez as a more practical alternative that allows free movement while maintaining modesty.

The earliest examples of salwar kameez have been found in the Indus Valley of central Asia. It was originally brought to the subcontinent by the Mughals in the 16^th century. At this time, it was an outfit worn by the women of the Mughal courts. As the Mughals were horse-riding people, the addition of the pants under the long top maintained modesty while being completely practical and allowing for free movement for all pursuits, including horse riding. There is a great deal of confusion as there were actually two Muslim empires in ancient India. The earliest was the Delhi Sultanate, which ruled from 1206 – 1526. These rulers were hostile to the other cultures and faiths they ruled, so their cultural trappings were not adopted by the majority of people in the area (who were initially Hindus and later saw the development of Sikhism also). But the Mughal’s were a completely separate empire who ruled from 1526-1857. While also being Muslims, they were ethnically different from the Delhi Sultanate (the Mughals were Indo-Turkic) and brought the salwar kameez with them from their Mongol history. They were also far more inclusive and had a vast administrative system that included Hindus. As such, they were largely popular leaders and their traditions were picked up by the people they ruled. Hence, the salwar kameez became highly popular with Hindus and became so associated with places in India that it became associated with the people who live there – which is why you will sometimes see the Salwar Kameez referred to as a Punjab Suit, as it is associated with the Punjab region.

The varieties of materials and exquisitely intricate printing and embroidery possible on salwar kameez is simply breathtaking. You could wear a salwar kameez every day and no one would notice you were wearing the same style of outfit as there is so much variation in the fabrics and designs and cuts. It truly is a diverse form of dress.

We love it also as it covers all the modest needs of any wearer. The dupatta can be worn as a permanent head covering (such as for Muslim women who wear hijab over their hair in public) or a non-permanent head covering (such as that worn by Hindu women who cover their head as a sign of respect when attending temple or in front of elders in the community etc). Alternately, the dupatta can be worn simply as an additional, feminine adornment flowing over the top, or in the West, is sometimes abandoned and the salwar kameez is worn on its own by women as well as men. All cultures and faith traditions have been able to embrace this versatile garment.

At Myriad Modest Fashion, we try out hardest to stock long sleeved salwar kameez, as these are the most difficult to find when buying ready made garments. We also love the palazzo style of pants, that are long and wide and do not grip the shape of the leg, although we have an array of pant types represented, including the Afghani silhouette, where the loose pants taper in with a tight cuff at the ankle (very classic and beautifully tailored). The other thing we ADORE is the diversity of decoration. We offer salwar kameez that are printed, embroidered, and a mix of printing and embroidery. We currently have beautiful, cool cotton salwar kameez, and keep your eyes peeled because a range of silk salwar kameez are not far away. They will also be available in wools and velvets during the cooler months.

The subcontinent is home to one of the largest populations on earth – and there is a reason so many people there are proud and passionate about wearing salwar kameez. It is one of those outfits you simply have to own, as it is fun, colourful, modest, glamorous and professional while also being cool to wear and completely unrestricted in movement. So they inevitably look good at all times of the day. We also love that traditionally, in India, they are not ironed, so small creases are actually part of the design and function to enhance the embossing of any embroidery!

So enjoy wearing a salwar kameez – the ultimate beauty in diversity!

Want to see our current range of salwar kameez? See our "Modesty We Love" page.

Want to know how to style a salwar kameez? See our "How Do I Wear That" page.