Sherwani (Young Boy's Coat)
Early 20th century CE
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS)
Mumbai, India
This sherwani was presumably made for some special occasion. Sherwani was one of the most popular male costumes since medieval times. It is still favoured at the time of weddings and other special occasions. This style of well-fitted long coat is derived from loose and flared jamas.
The city of Benares is famous as a brocade-weaving centre since ancient times. Even today the best brocades are made here. To make a brocaded textile the designs are first made on paper and then transferred onto a smaller loom by nakshabanda, after which the weaver weaves the textile. The cloth is woven keeping its reverse side on the loom and placing a mirror below it. This ensures the weavers that they are following the right design.
- Title: Sherwani (Young Boy's Coat)
- Date Created: Early 20th century CE
- Location: India
- Type: Coat
- Medium: Silk with brocade
- Region: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- History of Style of Technique: The birth of a child brings great joy as it ensures the growth of the family tree. His arrival in civilised society is marked with a gift of a soft mulmul zabla. According to Indian tradition, it is considered inauspicious to buy any new clothes for the new born. In fact at first the baby is made to wear old clothes of a child from the family. The used clothing is soft for the tender baby skin and it is believed that through these clothes the positive family vibes and values would pass onto the baby. The arrival of a baby is remembered by its tiny clothes; a marriage ceremony by the carefully wrapped up wedding attire; parents are remembered through the garments they pass on to their children. This is perhaps one of the reasons why we treasure heirlooms. The tiny dresses worn by our children hold sweet memories. Treasured more than any expensive garment, they are a strong symbol of love. Earlier, they were stitched and embellished by mothers, aunts, and grandmothers for the child but today the trend of such home-stitched garments is on the decline, being replaced by the variety of readymade clothing available in the market.
- Accession Number: 53.45
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