Pakistani Clothing & Culture By Jawad Khan

1.  The term Pakistani clothing refers to the ethnic clothing that is typically worn by individuals
in the country of Pakistan and by the People of Pakistani descent. Pakistani clothes express
the Culture of Pakistan, the Demographics of Pakistan and regional Cultures which
include Punjabi culture, Sindhi culture, Balochi culture, Pashtun culture and Kashmiri culture.
Dress in each regional culture reflect weather conditions, way of living and distinctive style
which gives it a unique identity among all cultures.
 Pakistani dressing has similarities with Indian dressing because of pre-partition culture which
was shared by these nations for thousand years but the religious factor was always there which
makes a difference. Traditional Pakistani dressing also shares similarities between the ethnic
groups of central Asia and ethnicities of the Iranian plateau such as the Turkic ethnic groups
(i.e. Khazakhs, Uzbeks, Turkmens) and Iranian ethnic groups (Tajiks, Khorasani Persians and
Pashtoons), that have been separate from the cultures of modern day Pakistan during
the Durand agreement between Afghanistan and the British raj.
 With the passage of time Pakistanis are adapting modern dress and cultural clothing, especially
in big countries.

2. The shalwar kameez is
the national
dress of Pakistan and is
worn by men and women in
all four
provinces Punjab, Sindh, Bal
uchistan, Khyber
Pakhtoonkhwa and FATA i
n the country and in Azad
Kashmir. Each province has
its own style of wearing the
Shalwar Qameez.Pakistanis
wairclothes range from
exquisite colors and designs
to the type of fabric
(silk, chiffon, cotton, etc.).

3. Men all over Pakistan prefer shalwar kameez
with some additional accessories which include
Pakistani Waistcoat, Achkan and Sherwani wi
th the shalwar kameez or
withChuridar Pajama. Jinnah Cap also
called Karakul, Fez also called Rumi Topi
and Taqiyah (cap) is used with Shalwar
Kameez. Khussa is a popular foot wear with
shalwar kameez. Men like to wear
traditional shawls made of Pashmina or other
warm materials especially in Northern part of
the country.

4. In regional clothing, Balochi women wear
heavy embroided Shalwar Kameez and
Dupatta according to the weather conditions.
They wear Kameez full of heavy
Embroided Shisha work. Sindhi costumes have
different styles of embroidery and some
women use Ajrak as Dupatta. these women
also wearbangles in their traditional way.
Punjabi women prefer light embroidery on
simple Shalwar Kameez or Kurta. Traditional
Lacha and Bangles are also used. Paranda is
the special traditional, colorful and unique
Punjabi item which is used to tie the hair.
Pathan women wear embroided Kameez
with a farak with a heavy Dupatta. Kashmiri
phiran style kameez has heavy embroidary on
the front neck of the kameez and is often
made of wool. Women Dresses

5. By women's religious
clothing we mean the
dressing in which they
try to cover all their
body parts except
face and hands while
going outside from
their home.Mostly
women cover their
heads with Dupatta
or Chadar in outdoors
but religious women
prefer to
wear Scarf,Burqa or
Hijab and wear lose,
long and
full sleeve shirts.

6. With the passage of time Pakistani
women has started to adapt new
styles some of which are the
combination of Pakistani and
Western clothing. Like women wear
Embroided Kurta with Jeans and
Trousers. Tight half sleeve and
sleeveless shirts with Capritrousers
have also been adopted.

7. In Pakistan the traditional wedding ceremony is celebrated
by wearing different clothes in each wedding event.
In Mehndi function, Men wear Embroided Kurta in glittering
colors with simple Shalwar, Patiala Shalwar and a colorful
Shawl which they put on their shoulders and sometimes
round the neck. In some weddings, dress code is decided
before the ceremony and all men wear the same color.
women usually wear yellow or orange Shalwar Kameez
with simple Shalwar, Patiala Shalwar .[5] Yellow Dupatta
and Yellow Paranda is also preferred with it.
During Baraat and Walima functions, the Groom usually
wears Kurta Shalwar or Kurta Churidar with
special Sherwani and Khussa. During the event of Baraat,
Grooms also wear Traditional Sehra on their
head. Brides normally wear expensive Lehnga
or Ghararapreferably in red, maroon and pink colors with
heavy Jewellery.

9.  Pakistani fashion has flourished well in the changing
environment of fashion world. Since Pakistan came into being its
fashion has been historically evolved from different phases and
made its unique identity apart from Indian fashion and culture.
At this time, Pakistani fashion is a combination of traditional
and modern dresses and it has become the cultural identification
of Pakistan. Despite of all modern trends, the regional
and traditional dresses have developed their own significance
as a symbol of native tradition. This regional fashion is not static
but evolving into more modern and pure forms.
 Pakistan Fashion Design Council based
in Lahore organizes Fashion Week and Fashion Pakistan based
in Karachi organizes fashion shows in that city. Credit goes to
Ayesha Tammy Haq, a British-trained lawyer and chief
executive of Fashion Pakistan, who came up with the idea for
Pakistan’s first fashion week, held in November 2009.

10. Make-up is considered an
essential part of Fashion and
Dressing in Pakistan.Some
people in Pakistan and many
south Asian countries think as
white or pale skin beautiful. In
the US it is the opposite.In
Pakistan, make-up plays a big
part for weddings. There is an
odd part of the culture saying
that a bride must be lighter
than her husband. This is when
skin lightening is used.

11. Pakistani fashion industry is introducing
Pakistani traditional dresses all over
the world as cultural representatives and
becoming a reason to introduce
international trends in Pakistan. Pakistani
media, Film Industry and Internet has the
biggest role in promoting fashion in
Pakistan. There are a lot of TV
Channels, Magazines,
Portals[7] and websites which are working
only for fashion industry. Despite of the
religious boundaries Pakistani Fashion
Industry has become recognized all over
the world through
its models, designers,stylists and fashion
shows.