India is known for its diversity the all over the globe. Ethnic clothing is just one of the things that distinguish one part of India from the other. The traditional Indian attire has earned admirers from people from all over to organizations like UNESCO. The craftsmanship with which artisans create traditional dresses is really incredible. All forms of clothing are quite labor intensive and require a lot of attention to detail. Many of these art forms are dying because the cost of production is higher and few people can afford to pay the high cost of the dress. This has forced the textile ministry to come up with ways to sustain these artisans and

preserve their talent and art. As every state in India is geographically different from the other, this has given rise to varied kinds of dresses and styles.

During 2500 BC, India became one of the first places to grow and use cotton for making clothes. Human art forms in Indian temples and monuments are perhaps the main source of information on Indian clothing. Apart from that the rockcut sculptures, the cave paintings, andremains from the sites of Indus Valley civilization also give a detailed bureau of clothing trends in India.

The opportunities thrown up by the wedding/bridal market in India are tremendous. Right from local boutiques to established traditional retailers and regional brands, every bridal wear retailer is vying for a share of the loyal consumer's wallet in a market that is governed more by design than brand. Niche brands such as Manyavar, Diwan Saheb,and Vastraare few examples of players that have managed to command a premium for their services. In this edition of SiliconIndia Lifestyle, we chose to focus on this startling segment in the Indian lifestyle. The featured designers and resellers in this issue are mesmerizingly unique and their design and apparels are exceptional, or what we call in the fashion industry showstoppers.
Happy Shopping.