Lehenga is an aesthetic and iconic outfit you will ever find in Indian culture. Indian lehengas come with centuries-long heritage. The lehengas, whether the traditional ones or the designer lehengas, are a traditional and elegant garment with roots in the royal courts, has evolved significantly over time, taking on new forms on the fashion runways.
Origins date back to the Mughal era
The origins of the lehenga can be set up in the Mughal period, around the tenth century. The Mughals, who were famed for their luxurious life and appreciation of exquisite fabrics, carried a wide range of artistic influences with them that had a big impact on Indian design. In areas affected by Mughal rule, the lehenga, firstly a skirt-like garment worn by women, was a chief of traditional dress. During this time, the lehenga was generally worn with a dupatta, a piece of cloth draped over the shoulders and head, and a long blouse called a choli. The outfit was lavishly stretched with plums and precious monuments, zardozi( metallic threadwork), and elaborate embroidery. Luxurious accoutrements were employed, similar as velvet, silk, and brocade, to accentuate the wear and tear’s status and riches. Just like the Designer Anarkali suits, lehengas have their own unique presence in this era.
Regional influence
The lehenga gained fashionability throughout India as the Mughal Empire spread, with each region giving the dress its own distinct faculty. In Rajasthan, the lehenga was designed and modified so that its style and design are equally useful to the women surviving in the desert. The Rajasthani lehenga, or ghagra, depicted the dry terrains of the region through pictorial colours and designs, all made up of cotton. In Gujarati culture and tradition, it became a traditional attire for the Navratri festival. The kind of lehenga worn in Navratri came to be known as chaniya choli because of its distinguished glass work and pictorial, strong and vibrant colours that represented the joyful atmosphere of the area. In contrast, lehenga in South India came to be known as pavadai, which is a two- piece dress worn by ladies and girls on important occasions and during carnivals. It was designed on silk fabric with gold zari work and displayed the skill of South Indian needlewomen.
British era and aftermath
Indian fashion underwent a tremendous metamorphosis in the British era of the 18th and 19th centuries and lehenga is no exception in it. It lost its importance and prominence in these eras in the nobility clan because of their inclination towards the western styles and designs in fashion which were influenced by the British. Gowns and other western clothes became the new favourites of noble women in these eras. However, in pastoral groups and other groups who were deeply rooted to the Indian traditions and cultures, lehenga remained a prominent outfit for weddings and festivities. It saw an evolution during these periods which had more indigenous designs and styles depicted on its fabric.
Revival in 20th century
The 20th century witnessed a rejuvenation of the lehenga, particularly in post-independent India. Indian designers fused traditional embroidery with ultramodern cutouts and fabrics to give the lehengas a new evolution and the Bollywood films made them a fashion icon of the 20th century. Madhubala, Rekha, Madhuri Dixit and many other Bollywood heroines made these newly evolved lehengas a new fashion trend. Matrimonial couture first appeared in the 1990s, when contrivers similar as Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Manish Malhotra, and Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla produced gorgeous lehengas that were an absolute must-have- have for Indian misters.
The contemporary Lehenga
The lehenga has developed into a multipurpose point of apparel in ultramodern India, suitable for marriages, carnivals, and fashion shows. Lehengas of the moment are available in a multitude of forms, ranging from the traditionalA-line and indirect outlines to further avant- garde styles like the fishtail or mermaid lehenga. moment’s contrivers are still pushing the envelope of conventional design by experimenting with draping ways and embellishments, as well as by combining unusual accoutrements like net, organza, and georgette. Traditional lehenga tinges like red, maroon, and gold are no longer in style; now, aquarelles, neons, and snap palettes are fashionable. With Indian contrivers flaunting their collections at foreign fashion weeks and celebrities espousing the garment encyclopedically, the lehenga’s appeal has expanded as well. The lehenga is now a representation of classic fineness that impeccably combines ultramodern and traditional rudiments, transcending its ethnic origins.
Summing up
The lehenga’s trip from the Mughal royal palaces to the world of fashion is evidence of its dateless appeal. The lehenga, which embraces both contemporary fashion and the rich artistic heritage and numerous customs of India, continues to be a treasured composition of apparel.
