India Jewellery : Traditional Jewellery of India

India Jewellery and Ornamentation

Even in the earliest records of costume in India, jewellery is seen as a vital accessory to everyday attire. Jewellery in India, much like costume, is the manifestation of a refined design sensibility and skill, evolved by a civilization over the millennia. The vast and diverse range that exists today is an indication of the creativity and aesthetic consciousness of the Indian craftsperson, as also the inherent desire for personal adornment.

Unlike the western notion of jewellery, a piece of India jewellery is never simply decorative. There is invariably a symbolic value attached- the desire to also enhance the human spirit. Popular magic, theological or metaphysical beliefs are expressed through the metaphor of jewellery. The shape especially symbolizes esoteric life concepts and is often believed to exude growth and energy. For instance, geometric shapes like the circle represent the heavenly bodies like the sun and the moon, which, in turn represent the cyclical motions in the Cosmos. The use of the plant and animal forms express the power of nature. Hence, a seed represents the propensity for potential growth, while fertility is symbolized by animal representations such as the fish. Consequently jewellery forms a part of the ongoing circle of life.



The link between ornaments and religion is strong. Specific pieces of jewellery and even the material, of which they are made, proclaim the religious affinities of a group. As for example the pendants depict the gods and goddesses. The pious Hindu associates gold with Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and others perceive it as symbolic of the sun. Like the sun, gold too is held to be immortal and sacred

Indian Fashion : Traditional style of clothing in India

Fashion in India

Indian fashion trends varies widely and is closely related to local culture, religion and climate.The fashion in India comprises of traditional Indian jewellery, Indian clothing which includes saris or the salwar kameez and also gaga cholis (lehengas).Most graceful elegant clothing are saris and salwar kameez which are made out of silk and cotton and lots of people love them.

In India, a person's social status is perceived to be symbolized by his or her attire. Indian dress etiquette discourages exposure of skin and wearing transparent or tight clothes. Most Indian clothes are made from cotton which is ideal for the region's hot weather. Since India's weather is mostly hot and rainy, majority of Indians wear sandals.
Worn by women on their forehead, the bindi is considered to be a highly auspicious mark in Hindu religion. Traditionally, the red bindi (or sindoor) was worn only by the married Hindu women, but now it has become a part of women's fashion. Some Indian traditions consider the bindi to be representative of the third eye.



A saree or sari is a female garment in the Indian subcontinent.[1] A sari is a strip of unstitched cloth, ranging from four to nine metres in length that is draped over the body in various styles.The shalwar kameez is the most popular traditional dress for females. It consists of loose trousers (the shalwar) topped by a long loose shirt (the kameez). It is often mispronounced as "punjabi suit" or simply "shalwar" / "churidaar" in Southern India.The women of Rajasthan and Gujarat often wear colorful swirling skirts called lehenga, paired with a short bodice called a choli. If they must cover their heads, they do so with bright veils called odhani. Popular among unmarried women other than salwar kameez are Gagra choli and Langa oni.

Saree-Indian Traditional Cloth for Womens

Women's clothing in India varies widely and is closely related to local culture, religion and climate. Traditional Indian clothing for women are the saris ,salwar kameez and Lehengas. For men, traditional clothes are the Dhoti, kurta pajama or short Kurta.Saris are graceful elegant clothing ones made out of silk are the most elegant and lots of people love them and have cupboards full of highly pretty silk saris.

A saree or sari is a female garment in the Indian subcontinent.A sari is a strip of unstitched cloth, ranging from four to nine metres in length that is draped over the body in various styles. There are various traditional style of Sharee like Sambalpuri Saree from East, Kanchipuram from south, Paithani from West and Banarasi from North. The most common style is for the sari to be wrapped around the waist, with one end then draped over the shoulder baring the midriff.The sari is usually worn over a petticoat (ghagra has short sleeves and a low neck and is usually cropped, and as such is particularly well-suited for wear in the sultry South Asian summers).

Printed cotton sari is made in the western region of India – Rajasthan and Gujarat. Printed cotton saris are considered very elegant and are often worn by office going women. These saris are also very light on body and quite breathable. A sari is the most commonly seen costume of unstitched cloth worn by women across South Asia. Varying in size, style, pattern, colour and richness, it crosses all class and caste barriers, regional traditions and urban fashions continue to contribute to its repertoire of design forms. Each area in India has its own distinctive method of draping a sari. One end is generally worn tucked at the waist into a petticoat, pleated and then wound around the legs to make a long skirt reaching to the ankles; the remaining end may be thrown over a shoulder or over the head. A widow is frequently expected to wear a white saree, older women wear dark tone, while bright colures are reserved for younger women. Wedding saris are often red, as it is an auspicious colour; although in Kerala they tend to be white. A sari may vary in length from about three to eight meters and is usually considered in three parts: a field, an end-piece and borders along the length. The field may be plain, printed or embroidered, with plain or patterned borders. The width and decoration of the borders are dictated by regional variations and often help to distinguish between areas of origin. The end-piece (pallu or palan) is usually draped over the shoulder and may be embellished.

                                                                    

    

                        

Indian Kitchen Ware Accessories

Kitchen Ware Accessories

ShalinIndia has a well selected collection of stainless steel / copper dinnerware and dinnerware sets. These kitchen cookware utensils are made of durable, hygienically, easy to use, easy to clean stainless steel inside and heavy copper for the outside wall with an aircushion for insulation to keep the dishes warm for a long time. Our dinner sets are restaurant approved and an investment of a life time. These dinnerware sets are meant for serving dishes only; the aircushion between the metals does not allow the use on a stove. Made in traditional style of rural Indian households, the bowls and plates, the cups and glasses, the cutlery set and the thalis accomplish every dining table. A very nice and solid stainless steel and copper dinner ware set; it’s a perfect match to your regular crockery. Our plate sets, called ‘thali’ have everything you need for a perfect dinner table setting. This really big plate comes along with the small bowls for the liquid dishes, spoons and even a water glass. You don’t need a placemat; this plate is a center piece to every seat. They look simply unique.

Every dinner invitation becomes an Indian feast with Indian food served in traditional copper bowls. The dinnerware matches to every kind of china, or table decoration. They are unbreakable, timeless and useful for any possible occasion, whether you plan a dinner for two, a dinner reception or a simple family meal, you always have the perfect set up and everyone will admire your taste and style. Mugs and glasses made of pure copper are known to be of medical value. If you leave fresh water over night in a copper mug and drink it in the morning, you can give your body a healthy boost for the day.

We know you love to set your table in stylish fashion – yes something new, for every occasion. And we also know that you don’t like to spend on things that are not value for money. That is why try the mix and match method and create your unique and personal style for table decor and dinner ware.

 

    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Indian Clothing

India has been known to have wonderful dresses and costumes. Indian dressing styles are marked by many variations, both regional and religious. One is likely to witness a plethora of colors, texture and styles in Indian clothing. To a foreigner, the powerful attraction is the colorful attire of the people in India. With globalization, dresses are also getting westernized. Though the majority of the first generation Indian women wear traditional costumes, the newer generation are more experimental and wear Indian, Indo-western and Western suits. The majority of men are more comfortable in western clothing. Men from all classes and regions of India wear shirts and trousers

Clothing in India varies widely and is closely related to local culture, religion and climate.

Western culture is developing a grand love affair with the distinctive fashion style that is India. Along with Indian music and spirituality, Indian Clothes is having a huge impact on the mainstream identities of western style and culture. Though the majority of Indian women wear traditional costumes, the men in India can be found in more conventional western clothing. Tailored clothing is very common in India as women's blouses have to be made- to-fit. Indian fashion varies from one village to another village, from one city to another city. India's fashion heritage is rich in tradition, vibrant in colors and prepossessing. Bold colors created by the inventive drapes of these textiles catches the imagination like no other contemporary clothing. Indian fashion and Indian clothing for both men and women has evolved and is keeping designers busy. 

Why is Indian Clothing so popular?
Beautiful designs, luxurious fabrics and attention to detail makes our Indian clothing ideally suited for any occasion, be it an important social engagement or just simply relaxing at home in style and comfort.

Our Indian clothes are Popular with all age groups, they have been well accepted not only in the Indian market but also internationally and our designs are created keeping in mind the trends fabrics and colures of the season.
Our Indian clothes go well with regular western wear, ideal for a great unique look. They come in various lengths, sizes designs and fabrics which are suitable for all sizes.

You can be sure that Ethnic Fashions selection of Indian clothing are taken from the latest trend in Indian fashion, Some are embellished with intricate embroidered work in pleasing designs, they manage to look smart enough to be worn for casual family gatherings in the lounge, or even for an that afternoon tea session with friends in the garden.

Salwar Kameez
Kurta Pajama
Sari
Skirt sets
Scarves
Shawls

Father's Day celebration with ShalinIndia

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Father's Day is a widely known celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. It is celebrated on the third Sunday of June in many countries and on other days elsewhere. It complements Mother's Day, the celebration honoring mothers.

Father's Day is a celebration of fathers inaugurated in the early twentieth century to complement Mother's Day in celebrating fatherhood and male parenting. It is also celebrated to honor and commemorate our forefathers. Father's Day is celebrated on a variety of dates worldwide and typically involves gift-giving, special dinners to fathers, and family-oriented activities. Contrary to popular belief, the first observance of Father's Day actually took place in Fairmont, West Virginia on July 5, 1908. The special day was organized by Mrs. Grace Golden Clayton, who wanted to celebrate the lives of the 210 fathers who had been lost in the Monongah Mining disaster several months earlier in Monongah, West Virginia, on December 6, 1907. The First Father's Day Church, now the Central United Methodist Church, still stands in Fairmont today.

Unique Gift Ideas For Dad from ShalinIndia

Mens Scarves
Pashmina Neck Scarf made by weavers of Kashmir. ShalinCraft pashmina neck scarf made in 100% pashmina fabric. They are never mixed with normal wool, silk or viscose.
Pure pashmina scarfs are woven from the soft fleece. New fashion trend is handmade scarves. Pure woolen scarves are light and elegant, hand-woven from the finest wool available; made in Kashmir they are a fashion statement of their own. It is warm and comforting at the same time without being heavy and bulky when one wears it. It is so soft, you will never be without one of these wonderful Indian accessories. They come in endless color variations so one will always find one more to match with their wardrobe. Pure wool never crumbles; one can carry these extremely light weight Indian fashion accessories folded, only to unfold it when required. It will as good as an ironed scarf. They are pure Classic elegance and fashionable accessories during winters.

Mens Kurta Pajama

Kurta pajama is a gift to the Indian traditional wear by the great Mughals. In their custom, both men and women enjoyed kurtas and pajamas cut in long flowing panels. These elaborately embroidered kurtas with real gold and silver threads, weighed between 5 to 10 kilograms. With the change in time and fashion, modifications were made according to the comfort and affordability of people. Now the kurta pajama is more of a mans informal relaxing wear. Though the source of inspiration remains the same old Mughal fashion, many new changes are seen in todays style of Kurta pajamas.

Mens Cufflink

Cufflnks and Studs Handmade by artisans of Jaipur, , these cufflinks make for unusual and novel jewelry. Both antique and contemporary cufflinks silver are some of the most important men's fashion jewelry in India. They are a popular in urban areas and go well with formal shirts. ShalinCraft cufflinks are made in sterling silver with embedded colourful genuine gemstones. According to Wikipedia a cufflink (also cuff link or cuff-link) is a decorative fastener worn by men or women to fasten the two sides of the cuff on a dress shirt or blouse. Cufflinks are designed only for use with link cuffs (also known as French Cuffs or double cuffs), which have buttonholes on both sides but no buttons. These may be either single or double-length ("French") cuffs, and may be worn either "kissing," with the ends pinched together, or "barrel-style," with one end overlapping the other. Kissing cuffs are usually preferred.

Mother’s Day Celebration with ShalinIndia

We celebrate Mother’s Day on second Sunday of May every year to show our love and respect to our dearest Mom who gave us birth, happiness and care. The concept of Mother’s day celebration is new India. Globalisation, to a great extent has helped to make this Western, or mainly American festival to make its presence felt in India. In India, Mother is also known as Janani Janmabhumi Svargadapi Gariasi.To show the love and affection towards her on Mother’s Day we present her with auspicious gifts like clothing, jewelry and other accessories and mothers always have the obsession for silver jewelry like anklets, etc

Indian Jewelry for Mother’s Day Gifts :

Rajasthan in India is a recognized symbol of all that is beautiful and artistic. Rajasthan’s rich culture and exclusively living legacy of the traditional silver jewelry has always captivated people from far and wide. The traditional silver jewelry here remains remarkably unchanged and amazingly bears impressions of cultures of the Indus Valley as the Mediterranean. Here even a simply crafted piece like a Kada or thick ring for the hands or legs, has such an immense appeal.

Buying traditional silver jewellery is as much an art as crafting it. Unlike many other countries abroad, India has not had a system of hall marking the silver jewellery, more so, in the case of the traditional ornaments even when made today. Basically, it is judged by the feel and the look of it. The traditional old jewelry arrives in the market when the user either decides to sell it directly or through village shop. Traditional silver jewelry ageless. Women of all groups love to wear it. Wearing ethnic silver jewelry denotes their modern out look!

Gifts for Mom:


Check out our unique gifts for moms ! ShalinIndia's handmade unusual presents may be just the ideal way to express your devotion and thoughtfulness. The festival of Pathare Prabhu is celebrated on the same day only in Bombay and the Southern part of India (concretely Konkan and the districts below the Western Ghats). The Pathare prabhu caste always celebrates this holiday.It is based on a legend about a mother whose children kept dying after only one year of living and it has a very remote origin. Although it's also called "Mother's Day", it is unrelated to the modern celebration, which is copied from the US (second Sunday of May) and is celebrated in the whole country.