19 October 2022, Mumbai:
India as a country is a melting pot of cultures manifesting a multicultural/multiethnicity society ever-living harmoniously, merrily, and most peaceful co-existence since eternity.
East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet is a concept that doesn’t hold water in the Indian apparel fusion segment that blurs the boundaries between cultures. Western-style clothing combined with Indian designs and patterns and other fusion fashion styles is now flying off the shelves.
Fusion wear and its growing popularity in India
The best bit is that today we have INDO WESTERN fusion outfits that you actually can wear and are no more outlandish. Industry experts say that India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing fashion markets over the past few years and is projected to grow at 15 percent CAGR by 2022 and become a $102 billion market for apparel.
The fusion wear segment of pairing different fashion concepts together will hold a key chunk of the market pie. Many popular fashion brands like Sabyasachi, House of Indya, House of Masaba, Manish Malhotra, and Anamika Khanna have taken an Indian twist on a Western silhouette with their design concepts, embellishments, and embroidery. Others who are making a mark in the fusion segment include Shivan&Narresh, Mishra, Monika Nidhi, Papa Don't Preach by Shubhika, Ridhima Bhasin, Punit Balana, and Ridhi Mehr among others.
An idea whose time has arrived
Given the Indian women's newfound love for western wear & yet staying rooted in our way of dressing makes the fusion accentuates, giving way to widescale acceptance and embracing this genre of clothing like never before. Other than these designers, even mainstream apparel brands also have been observing this as a phenomenal growth subcategory.
The gen X age group has taken to Indo-western clothing by storm and the popularity of social media platforms (SMs) like Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok has made life easier for most brands to get media coverage and be liked and loved. The versatile nature of Indo-Western fashion can create a look for any occasion with outfits that range from glamorous to causal and occasions from a wedding to streetwear.
Indo-Western Outfit Inspirations
Celebrate Indo-Western fusion fashion styles! The fusion works is a versatile and flexible one of mix and match where there are no strict fashion rules. Just wear what you want in the casual setting by pairing the staple wardrobe essentials/coordinates like jeans with a traditional kurta or a western dress with an ethnic motif scarf. With kurtas available in different styles, colors, and patterns, women are sometimes wearing them short over trousers or wearing longer kurtas on their own as a dress, making them suitable for any occasion.
Currently, palazzo sets are all the rage in Indo-Western wear with women wearing patterned palazzo trousers with simple tops creating a casual chic Indo-Western look. Palazzo trousers now also have a modern silhouette with a crop top or halter neck top.
Trending Indo-Western Styles
Let us say the optics is that these outfits/silhouettes are fundamentally from direct Western influence and are well-blended with our very own Indian textiles and styling.
For social occasions such as weddings, another popular Indo-Western look involves pairing an Indian motif embroidered lehenga with a plain, crop, or halter neck top or a spaghetti top. Instead of wearing the traditional embroidered blouse, this kind of dressing is a rage among the younger generation at weddings and social functions.
Among young women in the Indian community living abroad, this kind of Indo-Western fusion wear is very popular and many designers are targeting this niche segment by exporting their products as well as having a physical store in many countries, besides online channels.
The preferred choice of all classes!
The men’s apparel segment also has incorporated secularly this fusion wear concept by introducing the Jodhpuri Suit set and flowing Angrakha style kurtas. Along with this are jackets that are paired with various lower-body clothing in different ways to achieve a different look Indo-Western Achkan that look quite similar to traditional sherwanis but yet are different and can be paired with jeans and other men's bottom wears are also popular.
Indo-Western fashion is on the rise and most smart ethnic brands have incorporated it as part of their product portfolio, as this rise is expected to remain constant in the near future both in India and abroad spanning the Indian global diaspora striking the right balance of look.
