LIBAAS – The Dress Culture of Pakistan

Pakistani dresses vary from region to region. Dressing style of each province is different and unique while the national dress of Pakistan is Shalwar Kameez which is worn by both men and women with difference in style according to the traditions and climate conditions. Pakistanis ware clothes range from exquisite colours and designs to the type of fabric like silk, chiffon, cotton, etc.

Menswear includes the traditional shalwar kameez with some accessories like Waistcoat, Achkan and Sherwani. In urban areas men wear these clothes on special occasions like Eid, Jummah and wedding ceremonies. Jinnah Cap also called Karakul, Fez also called Rumi Topi and Taqiyah (cap) is also used. Khussa is a popular foot wear. 

Sherwani with churi daar pajama and khussa

Men like to wear traditional shawls made of Pashmina or other warm materials especially in Northern part of the country. Balochi man wears shalwar kameez of thick cloth with very wide shalwar to prevent themselves from the hot wind of dry Sulaiman Range and Kharan Desert and a turban made of a very long cloth, often in white color to prevent their head from sun rays.

In rural areas of Punjab Kurta Shalwar and Dhoti along with Pagri is a common dress. Kashmiri people use Pheran, Shahmina, Shahtoosh and Jamavar which makes them warm in the cold climate of Kashmir. Western dressing like jeans and t-shirts, trousers and pent coat are common in cities. 

A man from rural punjab wearing dhoti kurta

The most favorite dressing among Pakistani women is shalwar kameez which is worn in different styles, colors and designs especially the front part of kameez is decorated with different styles and designs of embroidery. It is worn with different sleeve length, shirt length, necklines and different types of shalwars like patiala salwar, churidar pajama and simple trouser. Kurta is also worn by women in latest designs. Dupatta is an essential part of shalwar kameez and considered a symbol of woman's respect.It is used with different embroidery designs of Kamdani and Gota.

Bridal Dress

There are a variety of traditional dresses other than Shalwar Kameez but they mostly used in special occasions like Eid, Wedding, Engagement, Mehndi and ceremonies. Among these dresses are Sari, Lehenga, Gharara and Sharara. Farshi Pajama is an old traditional dress which is worn occasionally. Laacha is worn in Eastern part of the country; it’s a dress which resembles with Dhoti from its lower part.

Young Balohi girls in traditional dresses

In regional clothing, Balochi women wear heavy embroided Shalwar Kameez and Dupatta according to the weather conditions. They wear Kameez full of heavy Embroided Shisha work. Sindhi costumes have different styles of embroidery and some women use Ajrak as Dupatta.  Punjabi women prefer light embroidery on simple Shalwar Kameez or Kurta. Traditional Lacha and Bangles are also used. Paranda is the special traditional, colorful and unique Punjabi item which is used to tie the hair. Pathan women wear embroided Kameez with a farak with a heavy Dupatta.

Punjabi Girls wearing traditional lahangas with paranda and bangles

With the passage of time Pakistani women has started to adapt new styles some of which are the combination of Pakistani and Western clothing. Like women wear Embroided Kurta with Jeans and Trousers. Tight half sleeve and sleeveless shirts with Capri trousers have also been adopted. The current fashion trend includes long shirts, Kutras and baggy shirts and froks along with jeans and chori daars.