MY RESEARCH...
Fashion is about producing clothes and appearances, working through ideas, negotiating subject positions (e.g., gender, ethnicity, class), and navigating through power relations. It involves mixing, borrowing, belonging, and changing. But it is also about matching, creating, differentiating, and continuing. It is a complex process that entangles multiple perspectives and approaches. The study of fashion, as well, requires integrative and imaginative ways of knowing. For this Hamro Sansar project, it was significant that I researched the traditional wear in Nepal, and the four main Nepalese cultures represented in Nepal: the Gurung, Magar, Rai, and Newari Culture. After diving into the research of each cultures’ traditional wear, I learned about the importance of each design and its incorporation of different fabrics. Also, I researched different South-Asian cross-cultural fashion designers for inspiration, and reference.
TRADITIONAL WEAR IN NEPAL
RURAL WOMEN'S FASHION
The woman’s traditional clothing of Nepal is called “Kurta Suruwal”. It consists of light baggy pants, a blouse, and a large scarf. This outfit is often used by Nepali females in modern days. The trousers are loose, usually cotton, and have a bright coloring of any color. Usually, they are solid-colored, without any patterns, though modern suruwal might have prints and patterns as an embellishment. Unlike the pants, the blouse is very bright with patterns. There are hundreds of various color combinations and prints. The mentioned blouse is long (mid-thigh length or even knee-length) and sleeveless/short sleeved. The scarf is large; it is worn draped over the body. The pattern on the scarf matches the one on the blouse.
RURAL MEN'S FASHION
In most of the rural regions of Nepal, the men’s traditional clothing is called “Daura Suruwal.” The main elements are daura (double-breasted shirt) and suruwal (trousers); other pieces are a vest or jacket. The traditional daura doesn’t have buttons or clasps. It is held in place with a help of 4 ties (two near the shoulders and two close to the waist). The suruwal are loose pants – baggy trousers – that fit tightly at the ankles.
SPECIFIC CULTURAL WEAR
Alongside the usual traditional Nepalese clothing, the people in Nepal wear specific clothing which represents their Nepalese culture. In Nepal there are 4 major cultures: Magar, Rai, Gurung, Newari. For this project, I researched these four cultures and became familiar with their traditional wear and style.
CROSS-CULTURAL DESIGNERS
With my knowledge of the traditional and cultural wear in Nepalese culture, I was able to picture what type of clothing I wanted to create; however, I didn't know where to start. South-Asian Cross-Cultural designers Purvi Doshi and Prabal Gurung inspired me on where to start through their fashion lines.