What you need to know about shopping for Pakistani dresses in the US:
Pakistani clothes are the millennia-old ethnic clothing of the Pakistani people. This traditional clothing is a combination of the different principles and ideologies of the country's people. Pakistani dresses differ according to which region of the city and which ethnic group it belongs to. Although distinct, it is also similar to one another.
The most basic dress of the Pakistani people is the Shalwar kameez. It is unisex clothing worn in almost every region and by every ethnic group in Pakistan. It is a unique dress that includes a top (the kameez). It can be described as a long tunic, which can be customized in various styles, colours, patterns, and designs. The kameez is most often worn on top of a shalwar, as a flowy and fluffy bottom trouser. Even though this ethnic dress is the same for men and women, women’s kameez tend to be closed up in the front, while men’s kameez has a halfway button-up fashion.
The unique look and properties of Pakistani dresses have recently gained them their popularity worldwide. Due to their ability to be personalized and customized according to a person's preferences, Pakistani dresses have been seen in almost every colour, every unique embroidery style, geometric pattern, fabric, and length. This is what brings us to our initial question - What should you know before buying a Pakistani dress in the US?
The various dresses of Pakistani culture:
Although the basic traditional suits of Pakistan include the Shalwar and kameez, there are a dozen more tailored for special occasions, festivities, and weddings. They could be soft, subtle, and graceful. Or bold, dramatic, and striking. They can include short and long-length kameez, worn with a flowy floor-length gharara or a small embroidered blouse worn with a heavily embroidered floor-length skirt. Pakistani women also have a reputation for wearing the heaviest and the most embroidered frocks on wedding occasions.
Due to their shared history, Pakistan too has 6-7 wedding functions leading up to the actual wedding ceremony, this is where most of these dresses are worn:
Lehenga choli/Sharara:
The lehenga choli is perhaps the most fairy-like, ethereal dress in South Asian culture. It involves a blouse or a kameez-like top on top of a long floor-length flared gown-like skirt. A sharara is also similar to this, but a sharara may or may not be floor length, and it is more like a fitting, heavy skirt than a lehenga. The bride and also the visitors wear this dress. In Pakistani weddings in the US, you can wear a lehenga choli of your choice! A lehenga/sharara is a heavy dress, so it's only meant to be worn at weddings.
Gharara:
A sharara and gharara may sound similar, but they're actually quite different. A gharara is identical to a shalwar; it fits like a trouser that fits more tightly above the knee but below it, it has very heavy floor-length flares. Much like the sharara, a gharara is also a part of bridal wear, enjoyed by both brides and visitors at weddings. It can be both elegant and subtle or heavy and full, with embroidery work. The gharara is worn with a short or long embroidered kameez.
These dresses use several fabrics, all that are rich in feels and looks, such as velvet, silk, georgette, chiffon, Banarsi, jacquard, satin, etc. along with lots of embroidery in different styles like zari work, block prints, hand sewn work, mirrorwork and more.
There are many other dresses, like Pishwas, Anarkali suits, and bridal gowns, but they are all very similar to the classic gharara and sharara. The classic shalwar kameez is made with basic fabrics like cotton, lawn, etc. but several women wear shalwar kameez stitched with richer fabrics like silk or even velvet with heavy embroideries.
Where can you buy the best Pakistani suits in USA?
In the United States of America, Pakistani dresses have a newfound acceptance and embracement. More and more women and men from the US have been indulging in Pakistani culture and outfits. But it may seem hard to locate affordable Pakistani dresses in America. Although many renowned Pakistani brands are available in stores in the US, their prices tend to be high, and the staff isn't much help. But the East Avenue store in New Jersey offers you Pakistani-brand dresses in USA at affordable prices. The brands you can find here are:
Sana Safinaz: A woman-lead brand in Pakistan, Sana Safinaz is a successful Pakistani clothing brand and one of the first to have outlets in international countries other than Pakistan. You can find many colours and designs for Pakistani dresses in the affordable Sana Safinaz collection at East Avenue.
Gul Ahmed: Gul Ahmed is a textile clothing brand from Pakistan that makes and sells clothes for men, women, and kids. This brand is known for its bright pop colours and designs. The East Avenue store has a diverse Gul Ahmed collection in USA to choose from.
Asim Jofa: Asim Jofa sells luxury Pakistani designer clothing in USA. It is known for its diversity in neutral dark colours and different clothing options. There are several embroidered shalwars with long and heavily embroidered kameez as a top.
You can also find Sherwani for men and cheap Pakistani clothes for kids at the East Avenue store in New Jersey.
How do you purchase a Pakistani dress?
In Pakistani dresses, sizes differ from that of a US size “4 or 8” they have their own sizes and measurements. The measurements are usually provided in online stores in either inches or centimetres, and they are usually only on one side.
Pakistani dresses aren’t meant to fit too tight. They are a form of loose-fitting free-flowing dresses that are meant to allow and represent freedom.
If you buy a traditional dress, you can wear it anywhere on any occasion. But heavier dresses with lots of embroidery like sharara or gharara are only meant to be worn at Pakistani weddings.
Conclusion:
There is a variety of Pakistani dresses available in USA, and the East Avenue store has made it easier by offering a collection of Pakistani designer suits from multiple brands at affordable prices at the same store. The Pakistani culture and dresses are open to all, regardless of colour or ethnicity. Experience a new look and feel by indulging yourself in the beauty of Pakistani dresses and buying one so you can have your own Pakistani dress in your closet!
