Why cultural clothing matters

The story stitched into a dupatta

Every day, I see more and more of my Indian culture being erased. The chai I would sit on the porch and sip with my grandparents in the afternoons has become the chai tea latte a commuter picks up from Starbucks late to work in the morning, no recognition of where it came from. The dupatta my mom carefully pinned to the shoulder of my lehenga has become the Scandinavian scarf, a new style on prom dresses. There is no recognition of where these things have come from and their importance to our culture.

For example, the dupatta is not just a piece of clothing. It is also a symbol of resistance for India during British rule. Sarojini Naidu, an Indian activist who worked alongside Mahatma Gandhi, was a huge activist for a type of fabric used in dupattas known as Khadi. It was part of the Swadeshi movement, which was focused on Indian national pride and boycotting British goods. When these traditions are stolen and made into something more digestible for global audiences, it makes us lose a part of our history and traditions. Even worse, young Indian kids grow up learning that version of our history, instead of where it really originated from.

Wearing cultural clothing and understanding the value and history that exist in the embroidery and style is the real mission of Threads of Joy. When kids have pride in what they wear, they will strive to understand the history behind it as well. It encourages education about lost traditions and connects new generations to those who came before. Many of the traditional pieces of clothing in my closet have been passed on by the women in my family for generations, and have sparked my interest in older styles of Indian clothing and how they came to be.

The lehenga hanging in the back of your closet or the folded-up sari in your drawer may seem useless to you, but for kids in underserved communities, it can be a dream come true. Many kids feel out of place during festivals and ceremonies without cultural clothing, since their families can't afford it. A common Diwali gift in India is new clothing, and many of these children's families can't afford it. This causes clothing insecurity and, oftentimes, a disconnect from culture.

Clothing insecurity is a phenomenon when someone does not have access to clothing that fits properly, is seasonally appropriate, or, in this case, is not appropriate for the occasion. Those who experience this can experience major tolls on their mental health and social dignity. Dignity is at the core of what we do at Threads of Joy, and the connection between clothing and dignity is concrete.

That dignity can exist in many ways, but the way in which we hope to reach people is in the light in a little girl's eyes as she holds her very first lehenga that isn't torn or broken. It's beautiful and almost brand new. That dignity exists in a teenager wearing her kurta at her local temple, finally feeling confident in her clothing. The judging stares she once felt on her back suddenly feel like radiant smiles encouraging her through every step. And most importantly, this dignity exists in a new generation growing up confident in their culture and fully aware of the stories that shaped it.

Further reading: a think piece on the dupatta in The Harvard Crimson