Can you still remember the old memories of Pakistani fashion? When we think about it, it brings back a lot of excitement and nostalgia. Pakistani fashion is undoubtedly one of the richest cultures in the world. It is a culture that is an amalgamation of different religions and ethnicities, which creates a unique and colorful community. Thus, fashion plays a significant role in their daily lives.
When we mention Pakistani culture, the first thing that comes to mind is the colorful Pakistani dress code. Pakistani fashion has been influenced by different rulers and their reigns, making it an appealing and unique trend.
The four provinces of Pakistan, namely, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have their unique fashion sense. However, most of their fashion traditions were influenced by the Mughals and Britishers.
The Punjab province boasts of its rich and vivid culture. As soon as the mustard blossoms in the fields, fairs are decorated to celebrate the harvest festival. Moreover, the long kurtas and lungis are unique to Punjab’s dressing style. It was decorated with a large sheet and a handkerchief hung on their shoulders, and the women adorned themselves with lachas kurtas, and they often used birds to enhance their look. However, as time passed, the simplicity of their culture has been mechanized, leading to the slow fading of their cultural colors.
Remember the nights of dance and music where the words of Mian Muhammad Bakhsh, Balhe Shah, Ghulam Farid, and Waris Shah were heard freely. Those were the days when mattresses were placed on the occasions of marriages, and the cultural vibe was felt deeply. Sadly, that era may not return, but the old traditions must be remembered.
The Paranda was one of the dying traditions of Pakistani fashion, which beautifully accessorized women’s hair. It was a hair band made of threads and beads, consisting of three strands to tie the hair, used to make short hair appear longer and more prominent. Women would use it to decorate their fringes during different ceremonies and even on ordinary days. The Paranda gave beauty and individuality to women’s personalities and innocence to their appearance.
The trend of decorating hair and giving it a unique style dates back to the chutia and the couple. Still, it has now extended to new hairstyles and different colors. However, along with innovation in fashion, a piece of the past should also be maintained.
The beauty of women’s hair is considered one of the essentials of their beauty. Hence, women have always styled their hair according to fashion trends. With the Paranda, they could make their hair appear longer and more attractive. Making the Paranda was an essential skill; hence, mothers often ensured their daughters wore them as it claimed that it kept hair healthy.
Paranda was made of colorful threads adorned with birds, which many women would showcase and flutter on their waists. They were a part of feminine beauty and make-up. However, as time passed, birds became relatively invisible, and the trend of wearing Paranda stopped. The tradition of giving Paranda as a dowry, which was once followed, has also become obsolete.
Old gifts were often rich and adorned with shawls, embroidered headscarves, bed covers, stitched sweaters, colorful Shalwar Kameez and crocheted caps. The handkerchief embroidery was a unique art that was gifted to the women. The girls often wore long ‘prandas,’ with these Parandas to tie their hair.
Pakistani fashion is a rich culture that has a unique and colorful history. The four provinces of Pakistan have their distinct fashion traditions. However, most of them were influenced by different rulers. The Paranda is just one of the many dying traditions of Pakistani fashion, which reminds us of the good old days. Remembering these traditions is essential, as they form a part of the rich heritage that makes Pakistani fashion unique. Let us embrace our traditions with open arms and walk down memory lane.
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