The influence of British rule on elite Indian menswear :
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
First Statement of Responsibility
Gupta, Toolika
Title Proper by Another Author
the birth of the Sherwani
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
University of Glasgow
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2016
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
Ph.D.
Body granting the degree
University of Glasgow
Text preceding or following the note
2016
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
'The Influence of British Rule on Elite Indian Menswear: The Birth of the Sherwani' is a study of the influence of politics on fashion and the resulting development of new garments. This research is designed to demonstrate the effect on elite Indian menswear of the two centuries of British rule in India. It is an effort to understand how the flowing garments worn by elite Indian men in the 18th century gradually became more tailored and fitted with the passage of time. The study uses multiple sources to bring to light lesser known facts about Indian menswear, the evolution of different garments and especially of the sherwani. The sherwani is a knee-length upper garment worn by South-Asian men, and is considered to be India's traditional menswear. My study highlights the factors responsible for the birth of the sherwani and dispels the myth that it was a garment worn by the Mughals. Simultaneously, this study examines the concept and value of 'tradition' in cultures. It scrutinises the reasons for the sherwani being labelled as a traditional Indian garment associated with the Mughal era, when in fact it was born towards the end of the 19th century. The study also analyses the role of the sherwani as a garment of distinction in pre- and post-independence India.
TOPICAL NAME USED AS SUBJECT
D880 Developing Countries
DS Asia
N Visual arts (General)
NK Decorative arts Applied arts Decoration and ornament