Indian Clothing

My attempts to create a kanchala, modernly known as a choli, based upon a mid-16th century Mewari manuscript .

Although the majority of female figures in ancient Indian sculptures are devoid of a blouse, there are several instances of ancient Indian women wearing brassieres.

The temples in Lepakshi town of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh are home to some of the most beautiful paintings of Vijayanagar period available today. The Papaneshwar temple in Lepakshi was built in 1535 A.D. and others in the neighborhood must be of similar timeframe.

A choli based on a 9th century Buddhist altarpiece , as well as other medieval Indian artwork.

Making a choli that approximat es the 15th century Malwa silhouette is tedious but not difficult. Having a friend to help with the fitting helps immensely.

This pattern is based upon extant Turkish garments in the Topkapi museum, along with patterns for similar pants shown in Tilke. It is appropriat e for Persian costumes from about 1300 to 1620. I have used a loom-width economy method of cutting since it is so easily adapted for this style of pants and gives the correct fullness.

Also online at sca.berkeley.edu/garment_pattern/turkish_salwar.html and www.feoragdubh.eastkingdom.org/Patterns/salwar.gif .

Facilitates communication and education among those members of the Society for Creative Anachronism who share a common interest in Indian history and culture.

An overview of stitched garments in India to the 11th century C.E.

This is a drape seen on women in Vijayanaga ra-era paintings, a developmen t of the fishtail sari with extra fabric to be draped loosely over the upper torso.

Saris are a garment found in many SCA-period Indian paintings. Women and men wear saris in many different ways; usually relating to the functions they perform in society. For example, people that need to be highly mobile, drape saris into a pants-styl e. The "fisht ail sari" is so called because the most ornate portion, or "palla v" hangs down in the front, like a fish's tail. This sari is especially useful for dancers, who generally need full leg movement in the course of dancing an Indian style. But the drape can be seen on a variety of men and women in pre-1600 pictures.