As an Indian girl living in the US, you don’t see everyone wearing kurtas to school everyday or bangles and bindis as they would in India. Most of the time, you only get to showcase your cultural clothing at a parents friend's function or on a rare occasion for a wedding. You don’t usually get to wear or even see the long beaded lehengas or sarees that come with a lot of love and usually a little story behind them.

Indian culture brings with it many different types of vibrant clothing designed cohesively for different types of occasions.

Men typically wear:

  • Kurta

  • Sherwani

Women typically wear:

  • Sarees

  • Lehengas

  • Kurta/Kurti

SAREE SAREE SAREE SAREE SAREE SAREE SAREE SAREE

A “saree” or “sari” is probably what most people think of when they imagine indian clothing. A saree is one of the most traditional pieces of clothing that women in south asian cultures wear. It is a long yard of fabric paired with a blouse that is wrapped and pleated around a thin petticoat and then draped over the shoulder. In India women wear sarees every day, but there are different types of sarees for different occasions.

Tanu Maskar | photography

Swathi Damacherla | photography

Swetha Damacherla | photography

KURTA KURTA KURTA KURTA KURTA KURTA KURTA KURTA

A “kurta” is similar to a cotton tshirt except longer reaching to your knees. Kurtas are worn by both men and women; they are very versatile and can be worn on almost any occasion.

Riya Patel | photography

Tanu Maskar | photography

Srilakshmi Koya | photography

A “lehenga” or “lengha” is a long skirt paired with a cropped blouse usually worn with a dupatta, a shawl that matches the outfit. Many lehengas have repeated patterns along the fabric, you can also find tiny details like mirrors or transparent beads stitched all over the blouse or skirt itself. Lehengas usually make their appearance at any formal event.

LEHENGA LEHENGA LEHENGA LEHENGA LEHENGA

Muskan Jain | photography

Anoushka Misra | photography

Swetha Damacherla | photography

Indian culture is seen in so many ways, but one of the most creative and lively scene of it is through its fashion. These are only a few types of clothing in South Asian culture, but each and every one of these pieces differs from the one before it and that is what makes up half of its beauty.

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