The return of the 'salwar'

Recent interpretations of the traditional pants serve a reminder that classics never go out of fashion

- Pooja Singh

During a recent Iftar get-together at Old Delhi's grand Jama Masjid, a pair of pants caught my attention: the floor-sweeping farshi salwar, which borrows its name from the Urdu word for floor, farsh. It wasn't just the bright pink colour that stood out in a sea of heavily embroidered palazzos and slim dhoti-pants; its presence indicated that celebrities and content creators flaunting their love for salwars online is more than just a social media trend.

For the past few years, the salwar hadn't been on top of the list of looks for labels and designer brands. Palazzos, cigarette pants, dhoti-pants, harem pants, wide-legged pants and skinny pants ruled, and continue to do so on runways, streets and fast-fashion racks.