Recent warm weather has transported me back to the lovely warm summers of India, styles around Manchester remind me of the seventies and bringing the two together, it’s only right that I ask you to get ready to groove as we travel back to the swinging seventies, a time of bell-bottoms, disco tunes, and shiny stretch fabrics with an Indian twist.
The seventies was the era of transformation. It brought worldwide change, and India was no different. This post-independence period saw sewing become not just a skill but a path to self-expression and empowerment for fashionistas, designers and artists.
In India, the seventies were all about blending Western fashion with traditional Indian styles. Bell-bottoms, tie-dye, and maxi dresses were all the rage, often given an Indian flair through local craftsmanship. The result? Outfits that were as unique as a snowflake in a disco blizzard.
Indian sewers always had a unique and colourful palette of fabrics to choose from for their natural fibres like cotton and silk. These remained popular but synthetic textiles started gaining ground as the western world demanded this for their own markets. Adding a dash of spice to seventies fashion, India introduced this fashion to their demographic through Bollywood.
Patchwork, block prints and hand embroidery have always been successful design traits in India adding their own unique bohemian touch to traditional clothing. No two people wore the same garment. Indian artisans mixed and matched fabrics, creating exquisite pieces. Every saree, kurta, and shawl tells its own story.
For many, sewing was, and still is, a path to financial independence, especially in rural towns. Many households invested in sewing machines, empowering individuals to create clothing for their families or start small tailoring businesses.
The American Singer Sewing Machines were popular in India, but India has its own sewing machine champion, Usha, established in 1936, based on a Pfaff machine. These local brands offered reliable machines to homes and businesses across the nation.
Sewing in seventies India was a blend of global fashion and local tradition. It was a time when craftsmanship and modern style danced hand in hand. As we reminisce about this vibrant era, we celebrate the creativity, empowerment, and cultural fusion that made sewing in India during the seventies truly extraordinary. So, dust off your sewing machine and stitch a groovy blend of past and present, because the spirit of the seventies still inspires every stitch in India and beyond!
This was taken in July 1968, I still have my wedding suit. just wish I could get the brown stain out of the centre back which is in an inapropiot place. I am to scared to try an use peroxide but it lis ess harsh than bleach. I Loved this era loads of memories.. xxx
Love history especially when it's to do with sewing and of different cultures, thank you, oh and food lol ❤️