What Do You Know About Sherwanis?

There have been and are many men who don’t wear the classic suit, believe it or knot. The Sherwani is a long, coat-like piece of clothing worn particularly in South Asia in countries like India and Pakistan.

In the past it was associated with the Muslim aristocracy of the Northern Indian subcontinent. The sherwani appeared in India during the British period, and was worn by the aristocracy, but now it’s considered Pakistan’s the national dress for men.

The sherwani has a nintricate embroidery with beads and gems. Today, sherwanis are worn at formal events or weddings, pretty much like a tuxedo in the Western world. The older, more traditional sherwanis were black, brown and generally darker colors, but today they come in all the beautiful colors of the world. The fabrics that are usually used for these pieces are raw silk, pure silk and brocade.

Nowadays, they have been popularized in the Western world through Indian films and television series and many Westerners have grown to like them. In the West, many men feel as if the sherwani looks something like a dress and would not wear it. However, because of the cut that emphasizes men’s v-shape chest it really looks manly and strong. It is not recommended to wear ethnic clothes in general with jeans or other modern clothes. If you are to do it, do it all the way! Sherwanis are best worn with Mojaries, which are a type of traditional shoes but that’s another discussion.

The price of a sherwani can vary, but it can go from less than $200 to several thousand, depending on the fabrics and the designer.

The sherwani is similar to the Indian kutra, which is a long top and pants worn by men. It is found in more muted colors like whites, ivory, beige and tan with light embroidery around the collar, cuffs, and button down. It’s a great casual piece.

You can find a lot of inspiration in these sherwanis and expand your horizons. Why we like them is because even though it’s a simple, strict piece, designers can go miles with is: you can modify it in so many ways! In the album coming up, you can see some of our favorite sherwanis. Besides of the fact that they can be really original, we like sherwanis because we believe that if you would match them with European clothes, even though they are not popular in Europe, you could have something new. We’re working on that. Have a look and make up your own opinion!

 

Fraquoh and Franchomme

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. What do you think of sherwanis? Do you know someone who wears them? As a man, would you wear one? Would you like to see men wear them? Which one of our selection was your favorite?