| Asia is the largest continent of the world with its | | | | them are 'Yukatabira'(light and loose fitting robes), |
| 17,300,000 sq. miles area. The continent | | | | 'Happi'( a short coat), 'Kamishino'(two piece |
| comprises of a number of countries and each | | | | costume), "Kataginu' etc. "Hakama' is like pants |
| country varies from the other in terms of its | | | | and has 7 folds that signifies 7 human qualities |
| culture, habits, tradition and fashion. It will be a | | | | such as courage, humility, justice,chivalry, honesty, |
| Herculean task, rather an impossible one to bring | | | | loyalty and prestige. During monsoon they wore |
| Asia and its culture under one roof. It is so vast | | | | jackets made up of straw. 'Cording', 'sashes' and |
| and variegated that all the words of expression | | | | 'obi' are used to close different types of jackets. |
| would fall short for it. So it will be wise enough to | | | | All Japanese clothes are wonderfully embroidered |
| concentrate on only one of the aspects at aimed, | | | | and crafted with beautiful fabric works. Clothes |
| selecting only a few countries. When we think of | | | | are highly decorative that includes family crests, |
| Asia, the name of the countries lurk into our mind | | | | animals, bamboo, flowers, branches etc. |
| are Japan, India and China. So let us concentrate | | | | China: The 'Pien-fu' is an ancient two piece |
| on the traditional attires of these countries and | | | | ceremonial garment of a tunic like top extending |
| find out how these traditional wear are getting | | | | to the kneesand a skirt or trousers extending to |
| infiltrated into the modern fashion trend. | | | | the ankles. In China, clothing indicated not only |
| India: Being an Indian, I know Indian culture and | | | | class gender difference but also ethnicity. Han |
| tradition better than any other foreign country. So | | | | Chinese and Manchu were two major ethnic |
| I would definitely like to talk about our traditional | | | | groups in China who wore different cloths. The |
| clothing first. India is a country with as many as | | | | decorative band, appliquéd borders and |
| 29 states and each state has its own way of | | | | richly variegated embellishment and embroidered |
| robes. But as far as the national dress is | | | | design is one of the unique features of the |
| concerned it is identified with 'sari'. It is attire for | | | | traditional Chinese dress. 'He ch'ang-p'ao' is |
| women only. A 'sari' is nothing but a long | | | | one-piece garment extending from the shoulders |
| rectangular piece of cloth about 5 to 9m in length. | | | | all the way to the heels. "Shen-I' is a cross |
| It is worn without any fastening, pins or buttons. | | | | between the 'pien-fu' and the 'ch'ang-p'ao'. It |
| The tightly fitted blouse worn under sari is known | | | | consists of a tunic and a skirt or trousers like the, |
| as 'choli' and the final length of the saris hanging | | | | 'pien-fu' but the tunic and the skirt are sewed |
| from the women's shoulder is called 'pallu'. The | | | | together and essentially one piece like the |
| style, color, texture of a sari varies from one | | | | 'ch'ang-pao' .Chinese clothing is not only an external |
| another. It may be printed, embroidered, stone | | | | expression but also an internal symbolism. Darker |
| and mirror embedded et al. The material of sari | | | | shades of color are preferred to lighter shades. |
| can be cotton, silk, synthetic or man many more | | | | Dresses with lighter color are worn by the people |
| things. Besides its color and design, the most | | | | for daily use. Chinese associate few colors with |
| striking and charming feature about the sari is | | | | seasons such as red stands for summer, black |
| that it is not cut or tailored for any particular size | | | | for winter, white for autumn and green for spring. |
| and can fit any women. There are several ways | | | | They can be said to have fully developed a |
| of wearing a sari; and its manner of draping as | | | | system of matching, coordinating and contrasting |
| well as its color and texture indicate the status, | | | | colors: and shades of light and dark in apparels. |
| age, occupation, region and religion of a woman. | | | | Chinese clothing has a vitality of its own. It |
| Beside sari, there are many other dresses that | | | | reflects a woman's modesty. Chinese traditional |
| are worn by Indian women like 'salwar kameez', | | | | silk clothing almost varies with consistency which |
| 'lehanga', churidar etc. A 'kameez' is a long tunic | | | | was roughly established by the era of the Yellow |
| worn over 'pyjama' which is like a loose fitted | | | | Emperor and the Emperor Yao and Shan. Remains |
| trousers. A tight-fitted pant is known as | | | | of woven silk and hemp articles and ancient |
| 'churidar'.A pleated skirt is called a 'lehanga'. Some | | | | ceramic figures further demonstrate the |
| traditional garments for men are 'kurta', 'lungi', | | | | sophistication and refinement of clothing in the |
| 'dhoti' and 'pyjama'. 'kurta' is like a long top while | | | | Shan Dynasty. Orient dresses almost vary with a |
| 'lungi 'and 'dhoti' are apiece of cloth that is draped | | | | woman's figure. Mature women, in such attire can |
| around the waist. 'pyjama'is the pants worn under | | | | display their graceful and refined manner. In the |
| the 'kurta'. A collarless khadi jacket is also popular | | | | 17thc in North China, a collarless tube shaped |
| among men. But most of the India men, unlike | | | | dresses were developed; they were the old |
| women, wear the conventional western clothes. A | | | | ancestors of new dresses. |
| majority of women in India wear 'sari' though | | | | But this traditional Asian Clothing is seen slowly |
| some urban women love and feel comfortable in | | | | infiltrating into the modern and trendy fashion of |
| western dresses. | | | | the day. Various fashion designers have taken the |
| Throughout the country there are many religious | | | | approach of making dresses that people can wear |
| and regional variations in the costumes, such as | | | | everyday from the exotic treasures of Asian |
| Rajasthani women wear embroidered, mirrored | | | | traditional attire. |
| and the tie-dye materials while in Arunachal | | | | 'Saris', besides being the traditional attire of India, |
| Pradesh women are found draping home-spun | | | | has become an inseparable part of today's |
| long woolen skirts. | | | | fashion. Women worldwide now are experimenting |
| Indian dressing style is thus marked by many | | | | by draping this elegant designer's creation of India. |
| variations-both religious and regional; and one is | | | | In many grand parties, women from other |
| likely to witness an abundance of colors, textures | | | | countries also, are seen wearing a gorgeous sari. |
| and style in garments of India. | | | | Apparels like lehenga, choli, salwar kameez are |
| Japan: The clothing of Edo period (1601-1867AD) | | | | already in the trend. |
| comes into one's mind when asked about | | | | Black Japan printed floral Kimono wrap top, |
| Japanese traditional clothing. This consists of the | | | | georgette geisha kimono, geisha blossom kimono |
| basic pieces like 'kimono', 'obi' and 'hakama'. The | | | | top, Asia flutter top and so on are some of the |
| Japanese clothing is as simple as it is complex and | | | | other imports to modern fashion from Japan. |
| elegant. The building block of Japanese traditional | | | | Clothing of Asia varies from one country to |
| clothing begins with the "kimono'. During Edo | | | | another. More importantly in a country from one |
| period, this become an outer garment and was | | | | region to other it varies significantly. But if you are |
| made up of all kinds fabrics. Before and during | | | | closely following the trend across various Asian |
| Edo period, fabric was class oriented, silk was | | | | countries, you will find a certain pattern is followed |
| reserved by the for the upper class people. All | | | | everywhere. In one type of clothing a piece of |
| adult 'kimono' are cut into 8 pieces from 1 roll of | | | | cloth is draped which may be sari in India or |
| cloth about 36cm, 14 inches wide and 11m long. | | | | kimono in Japan. The same trend is followed in |
| The seams are cut straight and always the same | | | | Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and other Asian |
| width regardless of the wearer's size, so cloth is | | | | countries. In other trend a loose trouser like attire |
| left over. Any extra length was tucked under or | | | | for lower limbs and a closed-chest coat like things |
| over the 'obi' depending on the gender. 'Kimono' is | | | | for upper part are followed. Sometimes this top |
| simple in design and there is no fasteners used to | | | | goes upto knee like kameez in India or ends at |
| hold the 'kimono', close. 'Kimono' is designed | | | | belly region. People who are near hilly region |
| according to age, social status and gender. Just as | | | | generally wear colorful and embroidered |
| a married woman would wear a 'kimono' made | | | | garments, while people in plain land prefer to |
| out of darker fabrics and with shorter sleeves | | | | remain simple. Asian clothing is wide, vast and has |
| than a young unmarried girl. Under the 'kimono', | | | | enormous ranges. Like the people of Asia these |
| the lighter 'kimono' is called 'Nagajuban'. An | | | | are colorful, smooth, silky and comfortable. And |
| 'Han-eri'(a scarf like collar) is worn between | | | | above all these are as attractive as Asian land. |
| kimono and neck. Some other dresses worn by | | | | |