Maharashtra Costume fashion design

1. MAHARASHTRA
COSTUME
Subject: Textiles

2. Costumes
◦ Maharashtra is a vast state, the people of this colourful state wears different types of
costumes.Generally, men wear dhoti and pheta in olden days, while women wear
choli and saree. But with the change of time, young Maharashtrians too are fast
attracting to the latest fashions importedfrom the western countries.

3. Kashta saree (Lugada)
The Kaashtha sari (Marathi:नऊवारी साडी) is a style of sari draping is very
similar to the way the Maharashtrian dhoti is worn. The
word Kaashtha refers to the sari being tucked at the back.Since this sari is
usuallyworn by using a single nine yard cloth, it is also referred to
as Nauvari which means Nine Yards.Sakachcha sari is another term
commonly used to refer to this style of sari. It is referred to as Akanda
Vastra, which means it doesn't need any other attire to support it. In fact,
this attire holds utmost importance as women across different walks of life
have worn it. It is not just worn at religious and culturalevents, but women
have fought wars in the past and still work in farmlands wearing this.

4. ◦ Men Wear
◦ Men wear dhoti with a shirt known as the pheta in Maharashtra. They also wear
headdress, which is a folded cap of made of cotton, silk or woolen cloth. It can also be
a freshly folded turban known as rumal, patka, phet. Pagadi, the prepared form of
turban was also used to wear, but it is rarely used this days.

5. Koli
◦ Standing out distinctly,even in the sea of humanity that is Mumbai, is the koli who has
not given up his or her traditional attire. The dress of a Koli woman consists of two or
three garments namelya lugat(sari), a choli (blouse) and a parkhi (a shoulder
scarf).The Christian Kolis don’t use a parkhi and wear a typical red-checked saree with
a tiny border and use the palla of the saree to cover their shoulders.Lugat is really the
lower garment, nine yards in length in bright floral designs. It is worn in a peculiar way so
that when draped at the waist it reaches just below the knees and is drawn up tightly
between the legs.

6. The men generally wear a surkha (a loin cloth). It is a
square piece of cloth, thrown diagonally in front on a
string tied round the waist. The lower end of the cloth
is tightly drawn through the legs and knotted at the
back so as to cover the dividedof the buttocks. A
waist-coat and close fitting cap complete the attire.
When not at sea the modern Koli wears a pair of
pants and shirts.

7. JEWELLERY
◦ As Maharashtra is the land of Marathas and Peshwas, women wear traditional jewelleries
derivedfrom these two dynasties. Another very much popular jewellery for the Marathi
women is Kolhapuri saaj, a special type of necklace. It is designed in other parts of
Maharashtra as well, but Kolhapuri saaj is the most famous one. Different types of bangles
like Patlya, Bangdya and Tode are the typical jewellery on the hands of women in
Maharashtra. Maharashtrians fond of pearls are vivid in their Chinchpet (choker), Tanmani
(short necklace) and Nath (nose ring). The Bajuband (the amulet) is also a favourite. Earrings
with flower-shaped are a popular as well.They wear traditional chunky typically Koli jewellery
like the earnings patterned like the Pisces symbol (fish swimming in opposite directions) worn
by almost all of them.

9. FOOTWEAR
◦ Foot-Wear of MaharashtraIn past days, generally people of wheat and cotton growing
areas wear shoes, but were less common in the rice growing areas. Women go bare-
footed, but sometimes have sandals in the past days.
◦ Boots and shoes in the European fashion are popular since British days in towns and
cities, but their use is still confinedto small number of rich persons, pleaders, young
merchants etc.
◦ For the use of the common people, sandals and chappals of various patterns are the
most common one in the state. Kolhapuri chappals, which are made in Kolhapur
district of Maharashtra and its surrounding towns and villages, are famous worldwide

10. Kolhapuri Chappal

11. THANK YOU
By
Ms. Janhavi A. Diwekar