Costumes, whatever might be their origin, provides the visible index of the homogeneity and the unity of a people or their absence. Indian apparel, being fundamentally gravitational and concealing, is the opposite of European attire is more anatomic and emphasising. Generally, European society looks upon a piece of clothing not only as an item of personal attractiveness but also as a fashioner of personality.

Dress, throughout the ages have been chiefly determined by the geographical factors,climatic conditions, and changing needs of the socio-religious manners. It also depends on the products of its industry.

As the earliest civilisations developed, animal skins and bark gave way to woven cloth. According to the dictates of weather the first unsewn garments took the form of Saree, Poncho, Shawl, Loincloth and Sarong. A look at the evolution of the Indian dress would reveal that the people in the prevedic age used to attire themselveswith various types of clothes. Three piece clothing was common for men and women. Later, waistband was added to it. We find references that in Vedic age, cotton, silk and woollen clothes were prevalent. Sewing was also in vogue, however, it appears that in the earlier times people mostly wore woven clothes. The lower garment was tied near the navel and hanging pleats and upper garment (urdhva vastra or uttariya) was wrapped around the upper body. With the appearance of the Muslims on Indian horizon, some changes took place in the Indian attire, and by the time of Mughals, it was standardized, a mixed pattern of dress (containing Hindu and Muslim features) emerged, which was adopted by various royal houses, nobility and the elite classes. However, the teaming million living in villages and township continued with their age-old costumes.