How The Sherwani Evolved From The British Frock Coat

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Jawaharlal Nehru, wearing the Sherwani, along with S. Radhakrishnan and Harekrushna Mahatab and a group of people proceeding towards airport while coming back from their visit to Orissa. Image: Public domain. Source: Source http://www.nehrumemorial.nic.in/en/galleries/photo-gallery/category/44-jawaharlal-nehru-photos-general.html
The Sherwani, India's much loved male garment, evolved from the British buttoned frock coat - not from the Mughal attire.

An oft unacknowledged credit is due to India’s first prime minister for adding a dash of desi spice to the fashion circuit of international leaders. In a 1946 photo of Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohammad Ali Jinnah at Simla in 1946, it is Nehru’s dark Sherwani that stands out from Jinnah’s Saville-row suit.

In his public life, Nehru became known for sporting a Sherwani in winters and his trademark Nehru jacket in the summer. Succeeding generations of prime ministers and presidents followed suit – the Sherwani held a place as the garment of the Indian elite.

The Sherwani differs from the Kurta; the latter is visually similar but fairly lightweight in comparison. The Sherwani is a suit-type garment akin to a longer style of Kurta, that is usually worn over a Kurta. Some even call it a buttoned frock-coat.

Over the years, it’s been assumed that the Sherwani was a Mughal creation; websites like The Big Fat Indian Wedding claim that Mughal grooms would wear royally-embellished Sherwanis. It took a researcher in fashion history to unearth the surprising origins of the Sherwani – the British.



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