Sindhi ladies wear a sari or shalwar kameez, while males wear a kurta with pyjamas. Sindhis, on the other hand, had their own traditional clothing before the Shalwar kameez, sari, and kurta were adopted. Women wore the lehenga and choli until the 1840s, while males wore the lungi or the traditional Sindhi shalwar/suthan. Women began to wear the suthan and Sindhi cholo, which was the traditional Sindhi dresses clothing for all Sindhi women, until the 1930s.
Younger women used to wear velvet or amber pyjamas (suthan) both at home and outside in the past. They also wore a long skirt (jablo), a thick poplin blouse (koti), and a white rawa on top (a muslin head scarf).
Costumes from the past.
Sindh’s clothing were similar to those worn in Iraq and neighbouring nations during the mediaeval period and previous to the Mughal Empire.Short tunics and long robes in Iraqi design were among the outfits. If drawers were employed, they were of Iraqi design, such as the pantaloons, which were also popular in nearby Multan and Gujarat’s coastal areas. However, such Iraqi clothing was only worn in Mansura, the Arab capital city founded in 712 C.E., and was not widely adopted throughout the region. In 1050 C.E., Arab reign in Sindh came to an end. Sindhis also wore other traditional outfits in addition to these gowns.
Ajrak and Sindhi cap
Ajrak is a shawl worn by both men and women and the Sindhi cap is a type of hat that is unique to Sindhi dress.
Traditional Sindhi kancha (shalwar)
The shalwar style, which was acquired from Iraq and neighbouring nations, is the traditional Sindhi drawer. The Sindhi shalwar, also known as kancha, is a pair of wide pantaloons that do not begin to collect at the knees and are wide at the ankles, unlike the current Sindhi suthan. The traditional Sindhi shalwar is quite wide, comparable to the Gujarati kafni, but it is plaited at the waist. Both garments are loose until they reach the gathered ankles. Both clothes have their roots in Iraqi pantaloons, which are still worn by Kurds today.
Female dress (Lengha choli)
The traditional attire prior to the introduction of the suthan and Sindhi cholo was the lengha (jablo) choli, which is still worn by women in Sindh. Women in Thakparkar wear a ghagra, a heavier variant of the lehnga, with either a loose or fitting choli or a kancera, a fully embroidered, backless shirt with little cap sleeves and strings. The gaji (pullover shirt) is another upper garment worn in Sindh’s mountainous areas. The gaji is made up of little square panels with silk embroidery and sequins. The gaji’s neckline is high and circular on one side, with a slit opening on the other side. The rear of the opening is worn by unmarried girls, whereas the front is worn by married women. The original attire did not require a lady to wear a suthan underneath the lengha, and the skirt was frequently worn on its own until the 1840s. As a result, the suthan is a rather late adoption for women. The skirt is worn without the suthan in some parts of Sindh.
Modern Suthan (chareno)
By the 1930s, the suthan is a unique Sindhi dress, which is comparable to the shalwar, had established itself as Sindh’s traditional lower garment. The Sindhi suthan, also known as chareno, is strongly pleated, voluminous on the thighs, slightly constricted on the knees, gathered in at the instep, and pleated to the ankles, comparable to the Punjabi suthan of the Punjab region.
Male dress (Lungi/dhoti)
The lungi/dhoti is a traditional male bottom garment. In rural places, the waist wrap, which is worn with native top clothing such as the angarkho, is still popular. Males also wear a modern Sindhi suthan with a traditional peheren (Sindhi shirt), also known as angerkho, a short variation of the kurta that is attached to the side. Angeli is another term for the top, which is short and left-crossed and covers the chest, shoulders, and arms. The sleeves are pleated and lengthy. The tummy is covered by large and wide pleats. The traditional top garment, which resembles a long gown, is the alternative option.
