How much would it cost to have a Salwar Kameez made?

nayan

I was talking about tailorng. The tailoring charges donot vary very widely - unless you are thinking of something elborately embroideried in silk or chiffon(suitable for a wedding). the prices of ready made salwar kameezs will offcourse vary depending on quality, style, material etc


I am not a western women. Its polite to be culturally sensiive and avoid things such as revealing clothes(tight fits, deep necklines, strappy tops, anything above the calf or the knee etc). It does not include having to wear a salwar kameez.

I was assuming the OP would be working in an urban setting. She will find lots of her Indian co-workers wearing western outfits(but adapted to Indian sensibilities).

Yes - that is what I meant. she should weat what she is comfortable in - weather-wise or culture-wise.

indiaprof

Ah, much is clear, now.

Of course, you realize that the way a lot of foreign women dress in India is simply not polite in an Indian context. Dressed like that, they probably would have trouble walking down the street in the U.S., too. This is, unfortunately, the way of the world. Most Hyderabadis are Hindus and Muslims. Try to remember that: they do not share our Western cultural concepts no matter how much Western gadgetry and luxury they acquire. Twenty years ago, Hyderabad was in the 1950's. The city has changed, but the people really haven't, not entirely.

I agree, as long as it's not revealing or too form-fitting, Western clothes would not be objectionable to most people in Hyderabad. Except, perhaps, in parts of the Old City, like the streets just east of Char Minar, in and off the Lad Bazaar.

And, yes, stitching for Rs. 200 (I thought that seemed rather low for an entire salwar, although I have seen such prices). At first, I must admit, I thought your taste in salwars might be... well, a bit tacky.

As for the dupatta, it's not really optional (as traditionally worn), although discarding it while at home is often done even by Indian women. It's there for modesty. That's how Indian women use it, mainly, although it has lots of other handy uses, too. In office work, though, it probably would slide off if you're moving around, filing stuff, leaning over desks, etc., so most Indian women, if they wear their dupatta in the office, discreetly pin it with a safety pin. My wife wears her dupatta and works in an office, and this is what she does. I would advise getting a sense of the people you'll be around before you decide how to wear your salwar, and just how modest you want to be.

Most guys in Hyderabad are good eggs, but I've met a few bad ones there, too.

Hal

Wayyyy off topic here, but does anyone else think that a lot of Indian words sound like they were used in the book Dune?

"Muad D'ib, you would do well to avoid the Salwar Kameez. Fear is the mindkiller.."

indiaprof

Yes, very much off topic. Was the person who initiated this thread even alive when Dune came out? Now we have to show our age.

I remember seeing Dune in the theater, and they handed me a vocabulary list! Much good it did me, in the dark.

The vocabulary used in Dune was derived, to a great extent, from Persian (which is why it sounds like India), and they say that the whole "Spice" thing was inspired by the history of the Dutch East India Company.

Which, I know, has "kuch-nahin" to do with the cost of a salwar kamiz in Hyderabad. Except that the Dutch were the second set of Europeans to export cloth from Andhra, after the Portuguese.

nayan

There is no "our" . I belong to one of the communities you mentioned (who donot share the western cultural concepts )

Already mentioned about the old city in my earlier post. I donot think the OP will be working there or visiting the place regularly other than a once in a while shopping/sight seeing/ atmosphere soaking trip. BTW I go to the old city pretty regularly during late night driving jaunts all over hyderabad.

A lot of people will agree with you about my tacky style . but seriously - a Rs 200 salwar would be fit for home wear and not for office wear. For office wear a very safe bet would be readymade mix and match sets from the likes of "W". the whole ensemble would come to around 1000 to 1200 (600 kurta, 300 bottom, 200 dupatta).


Incidentally I belong to that tribe.

Dupatta is essential with most kameez(lower cut necklines, figgure hugging shape) styles.

It is not essential with kurta styles(high neck or collared, structured lines).

indiaprof

Now all is indeed clear. Tribe is half of context, after all.

An Indian woman's experience of Hyderabad, however, is likely to be very different from that of a Western woman. Having traveled a bit in India with Western women, I'm afraid it's not always easy. But it depends a lot on attitude, and also on how you present yourself. Clothes, of course, are a big part of that, especially when you don't know the language and are still learning the culture and its nuances.

If people see you wearing the clothes, they'll think you take an interest in Indian culture, and you'll meet nicer people more quickly. That's one of the main reasons my wife started wearing salwar kamiz - and it works.

My wife does just fine in India, either with me or on her own, but she studied how Indian women behave and dress and copied their style. I've known other foreign women who became defensive, acted vulnerable and paranoid, and ended up getting mobbed. I would say that for a foreign woman, Hyderabadi women are pretty good role models: they don't take any nonsense. My wife doesn't, either.

Cardamom

.... Thank you, Hal. I needed that!

-C

nayan

I havent travelled all over India with western women, but have been close to some non-Indian women in Hyderabad. In their experience(and as I have observed), daily interactions - office, local transport, shops - are not really affected by whether they choose to wear indian or western wear(I mean western wear acceptable in India).

Hyderabadis are a pretty polite lot - even the auto wallahs will be very polite to you while holding you to ransom.

Due to the rapid growth of IT and BPO industries in the last 5-6 years non-Indian faces are non longer a novelty in some areas in hyderabad.

Unless some one is working in a profile like NGO worker or social researcher one need not wear the "Indian dress" to blend in/meet nicer people/be respected.

I am repeating this again and again because I often see contrary advice given by people who are mouthing hearsay/assumptions(I donot mean you Indiaprof).

BTW your post to me about how Indian women wear salwar kameez made my day . But I am sure you will agree that things are a lot more nuanced. For a person who has very little clue about Indian dressing sensibilities it is better to wear conservative western style clothing than an inappropriate salwar kameez - salwar kameez is not a one dress fits all occasion solution. I have seen some western women wear very inappropriate "Indian dress".

indiaprof

Nayan,

Yes, I'd imagine that in the BPO sector, and in places like Banjara Hills and other posh suburbs, fashion is "all over the map" as we say in the States. Also, I'm not so sure how the influx of Western workers into India has changed things. I don't usually move in such circles. I tend to hang out more with the NGO/social worker/researcher crowd myself.

Problem is, we don't know exactly why our questioner is coming to Hyderabad, do we? Context, again.

Meanwhile, I'm struggling to scrape together enough money to get back to India so my wife can get some more clothes.

It's not the $10-15 salwar that's the problem, it's the $1,400 plane ticket. I try not to think of what this does to the "average cost" of a salwar.

chAos

Am definitely with Nayan on this.

Not only do lots of Indian women wear western clothes, but often foreigners get away with more than Indian women would.

Also, you'll appreciate indiaprof, that there's no monolith of people; in some circles, sk's are considered almost dowdy. The OP can easily come here and take some time to see what it is she wants to do.

Finding a tailor you like will be a more pressing issue than the making charges!

indiaprof

My experience is that you go through at least three tailors before you get one you like. Or you get lucky the first time.
Of course, that's the cost of at least three suits, isn't it?

nayan

Not only in the BPO sector and not only in the posh suburbs - all over hyderabad(and India) dressing mores are changing very fast. The dressing norm of urban college students/young professionals have undergone a sea change in the last 5-8 years. it amazes me too .

Its not the influx of western workers. Its more about the proliferation of media and greater financial freedom of young people.

Thats true. work in the govt sector/social/research sector will require a more Indian style.

Good luck




Yes, in certain circles SK will be considered dowdy(though not in my circle).

And certain styles of SK will be considered dowdy by my circle too. no easy way to explain what those styles are. you need to be experienced to understand

Thats why for a newbie its better to stick to clothing style whose nuances she is familiar with.

And dont get me started on "finding a tailor" .

nayan

Just read the post history of the OP. she is planning to stay in forture fields/my home navadweepa.

My money is on IT sector.

Definitely not the social sector

indiaprof

Oh, well, then, if she's IT sector, we slumming academic types have nothing more to say.

Will I even recognize Hyderabad when I get back?

Even in the mid-90's, though, the place was "out there." I actually got asked out on dates twice while I was living there. Of course, I was much younger then.

nayan

I first visited hyderabad during a college tour in 1999. I liked the non-crowded feeling on the roads(compared to the city I come from ) and the juice shops.

I next visited in 2003. I could not recognise the place.

I started living in Hyd in 2005 - it has changed a lot during this last four years too.