CHENNAI: Festival season is a great time to shop, and Diwali is a perfect excuse for those looking for a reason to shop. Western influence and globalisation may have overtaken most parts of our lives and our wardrobes, with Indian traditional outfits transforming into Indo-western wear to appeal to the younger generation. But for those sentimental few, who still have fond memories of outfits they wore as kids, perhaps there’s nothing more nostalgic than good’ol pattu pavadai chattai.
A quintessential part of being South Indian, other than the malli poo, is the pattu pavadai chattai, which may have lost its traditional sheen a bit, but it is certainly one of the most sought-after outfits for girl children. “As a kid, I remember wearing pattu pavadai (silk) almost every alternative day. It was a very proud thing to do…to show-off the different colours of pavadai one owned. The box-neck and round-neck blouses were common designs those days,” recollects Kokila, a 70-year-old retired school teacher.
The new trend that has been doing rounds is the dupatta-attached with pavadai chattai. With more kids wanting a combo of traditional and contemporary designs, tailors are becoming their ultimate designers. “In recent times, people are not only stitching the traditional wear in silk material but are also getting it done in designer material as well. It has a lot of embroidery and stone work done on it,” says Pooja, a designer.
Pavadai material with colourful stones and white-stone embellishments are trending in the city. “We get a lot of bulk orders from people residing in foreign countries,” says an official from one of the famous stores on Usman Road. “When NRIs come to Chennai, they shop in bulk for family and friends. They buy pattu pavadai material, stitch them and take them back. It is wonderful to see our culture go beyond the borders,” says a senior official from a reputed clothing store on Usman Road. “We sell 900 to 1,500 pavadai materials during Diwali.”
The pavadai continues to evolve through time and is now a hybrid of ghagra and pavadai. Since the school kids prefer bandhani ghagra choli and readymade sarees, parents are now customising the orders of pavadai chattai. “Earlier, pavadai chattai meant two pieces of clothing, but now it is available even as a single piece apparel. There are variations in which the fabric is stitched and is fused in other materials as well,” says Preethi, a student at NIFT, Chennai.
This trend of fusion-style is a hit among the age groups of 5 to 18. Colours such as Orange-pink, Red-pink, and purple-dark blue are popular. “Earlier, we used contrast colours, but now dark shades fused with another dark shade is catching up,” she adds. Velcro in pavadai is also a very common sighting these days.
There are also those who prefer the traditional colouring, style and design. “I think wearing a traditional pattu pavadai chattai with traditional jewellery can become a trend setter if worn well,” says Megha, a fashion design student.