Let Your Dupatta do the Talking

The South Asian dupatta ( du - meaning two and patta meaning a piece of fabric) which lies somewhere between its religious cousins -- the shorter head scarf popular in Turkey and Indonesia and the niqab and abaya worn in Saudi Arabia is an essence of femininity. Popularly known as Odhni or Chunari, this delicate piece of cloth, dates back to the Indus Valley Civilisation and the Vedic times when it was worn as a matter of pride, modesty and fashion statement and was an indispensable part of a woman’s wardrobe . Historically, the dupatta was worn both by men and women; unlike now. Most students will be familiar with the famous Indus valley sculpture of a noble man/priest-king wearing a shawl-like fabric on the left shoulder.  The Dupatta was a common part of the ensemble of the Rajas and Maharajas!

With time , the dupatta, has evolved and went on from being a fabric for practical purposes to something that compliments the overall dressing of a woman such as coordinating suits. Each region In India has its own way of presenting the Dupatta with unique embellishments, embroideries, fabrics and weaves. Traditionally, for  apparels, dupatta is worn with salwar kameez, lehenga, churidar, sharara, garara etc. However, if you want to create a different look each day with your usual everyday outfits, Dupattas can be the perfect fashion accessory to help you create a unique style statement. While a well matched and well styled dupatta can complete your traditional look, today dupattas are used by urban Indian women to create a new look with western wear such as jeans, skirts etc. Go ahead and add different types of dupattas to your everyday outfits and stand out in a crowd .

Celebrate traditional artistry with ArtEastri cotton/linen kantha embroidered dupattas, or look exquisite in an ArtEastri Woven Shibori Silk Dupatta. Cotton/Linen is a fabric that can be worn throughout the year as it is breathable, light and comfortable. Particularly suitable for the sultry Indian summer months. Cotton/Linen dupattas are ideal for casual wear or at the office. If you are planning to hang out in any art concert or exhibition, ArtEastri Woven Shibori dupattas should be your definite pick with a subtle kurta and cropped pants.

For evening parties, lawn side parties, pre wedding events and cocktail parties/ social gathering, ArtEastri rich hand kantha embroidered Tussar Silk Dupattas should be your style statement. Hailing from the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent, Kantha is a truly laborious and intricate embroidery technique. Practiced only by rural women, this technique utilizes a simple yet intricate running stitch to chart out mythological and natural scenes, objects, birds, animals and floral motifs.Choose plain silk salwar suits or classic kurta to show off the contrast with the colourful embroidery. Let your dupatta do your talking!