Logo

Logo

Go Indian: Bandhgalas over English suits

The practice of wearing an English sut or a tuxedo on special occasions is increasingly becoming passe for Indian men,…

Go Indian: Bandhgalas over English suits

(Getty Images)

The practice of wearing an English sut or a tuxedo on special occasions is increasingly becoming passe for Indian men, who are now seen donning royal ethnic attires like bandhgala and angrakha.

According to designer Sabyasachi Mukherji, Indian men, particularly grooms, are "suddenly realising the importance of being Indian".

"They are not ready to wear a bandhgala with trousers any more, they want to wear them with a churidar. They want to wear achkans and angrakha," he told PTI.

Advertisement

Bandhgala is in fact a more ruly successor of the unstructured angrakha that had its origins in ancient India (7000 BCE-500 CE) as a court outfit.

Over the centuries, the classic angrakha shaped itself into the better fitting bandhgala, and has now become a powerful statement in contemporary fashion, especially with Hollywood stars like Vin Diesel and political personalities like Prime Minister Narendra Modi opting to wear it at public occasions.

he essential change in the silhouette of the traditional attire was brought about by the introduction of the structured
British jacket which altered the then existing boxy pattern considerably.

"The British jacket gave the traditional bandhgala a new shape, a brisker silhouette and, most importantly, due importance to the trousers because of its short jacket style appearance," designer Nikhil Thampi of 'Shantanu and Nikhil' told PTI.

he redesigned bandhgala, which soon became a popular formal and semi-formal uniform among the royals, has now become a must-have in every man's wardrobe.

Whether it's a wedding soiree or a formal dinner, the bandhgala renders a sense of sophistication and the fact that
it flatters all body types makes it a wardrobe intrinsic.

he popularity of the bandhgalas in the contemporary times, largely lies in the unique innovations by Indian designers, who have made it relevant for the 21st century fashion, while also retaining its deep-rooted Indianness.
Designer Raghavendra Rathore, who himself is of royal descent, has reinvented the timeless attire worn by royalty
and nobility over generations, giving it a dashing new avatar.

he magic of his style is in the cuts that add flamboyance to the Bandhgala's legacy, which is now an accepted attire for a black-tie event across the globe.

Rathore suggests that the 'Prince coat' looks best when worn with yellow buttons

Advertisement