Indian fashion has been shaping the fashion industry for centuries. From first producing cotton during the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3300–1300 BCE) to trading textiles with the ancient Romans, and finally to walking the runway at elite high fashion shows. India has always been at the forefront of fashion, even if credit was not always given where it is due.
Indian fashion is diverse, with different textiles and art in each region - from the textile handloom silk of South India to the cotton of West and East India. For example, one textile you may have heard of is Madras checks from the Chennai region. Its patterns and breathability made it a favorite of the world and part of the “old money aesthetic” during the 1950s in the US. These plaid checkered shirts offered comfort and effortless style, becoming a wardrobe staple for all around the world.
Another great example is embroidery that is taking the world by storm is Gujrati Shisha or mirror embroidery. While this style originated in Persia, it developed and grew into a definitive art during the Mughal era in India. This art style has been found across Indian garments for hundreds of years and has recently made a comeback in the luxury fashion scene. Labels such as Dior, Tom Ford, and Sabyasachi, among others, have brought this embroidery back to the world stage with Dior’s Fall 2023 collection featuring the work. Recently, Parada inthe 2025 fashion week featured another Indian art and textile, Kolhapuri Chapple ( slippers) as expensive leather sandals.
These regional arts and textiles have had a profound impact on the world. Without the bandana, used by laborers and farmers for years in South Asia, cowboy and 70s fashion alike would be incomplete. Without tie-dye from Tamil Nadu, the 60s hippie culture would have taken a crushing blow. Last, but certainly not least, if it weren’t for the spinning wheel, originating in the Indus Valley Civilization, which increased the yarn output from Indian-grown cotton, there would be no fashion.
From ancient times to the present day, Indian textiles and arts have revolutionized the fashion industry and continue to shape the world, one thread at a time.
