Andhra Pradesh is known for a lot of things; like its wildlife, flora, landscape, food, hospitality, amusing attractions, activities, and whatnot. But are you aware that Andhra Pradesh is also known as the food bowl of India? It is the eight largest state and a huge producer of multiple grains, vegetables, and fruits. But what most people don’t know is that this state is also known for its traditional dresses for men and women. The dresses here are as popular as the Andhra Pradesh food.
Usually, you will see people wearing their traditional dresses during the festivals of Andhra Pradesh, fairs, or any other occasion like marriages. The costumes worn by people here are vibrant and colorful.
Let’s have a look at some of the best traditional clothes of Andhra Pradesh in 2023
Traditional Costumes of Andhra Pradesh for Men
1. Kurta
Kurta-Pyjama, Dhoti-Kurta, and Lungi-Kurta are some of the best combinations that you get to see in Andhra Pradesh. Not only does this give you utmost comfort but also a great look. Kurta is an upper wear that is worn by men that comes in different styles. Usually, Kurta is known for its comfort and that’s the reason why it is made of cotton. Although over time, there have been a lot of new and different materials being used, the cotton Kurtas still are the best.
2. Lungi
The next attire on our list is a Lungi. It is not just popular here but is also a traditional dress of Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and many other parts of India. Worn by men, this is nothing but a long piece of cloth that is worn by wrapping around the waist. It offers comfort, elegance, and convenience to the wearers. People from smaller regions of Andhra Pradesh not only wear this on special occasions like festivals but also in their marriages.
3. Dhoti
Another bottom wear that you will see many people wearing in Andhra Pradesh is Dhoti. Actually, Dhoti is the same like Lungi but with different names. There might be a few differences in different places but the major thing remains the same. It is a long cloth that is wrapped around the waist. But in Andhra Pradesh, you will get to see a lot of variety. There are some designer Dhotis available in the market that goes hand in hand with trendy wear.
4. Shirt
I believe this doesn’t need any introduction and we are well aware of what this attire is all about. Kurta is the traditional upper wear for men of Andhra Pradesh but the shirt has also become a very important and integral part of the clothing ecosystem of the state. And not just in this state; across the world. And shirts are also replaced by t-shirts by the younger generation.
Traditional Costumes of Andhra Pradesh for Women
5. Saree
There are some clothes in India that are popular and worn throughout the country. One of those for women is a saree. This is a long cloth, usually of 6 yards, and is wrapped around the waist to cover the bottom part of the body. There is a blouse which has different names in different places. The designs and styles of a saree have been changing and evolving over time. You will get different styles of saree in Andhra Pradesh. The work, color, and length also might differ.
6. Langa Voni
This is a “not-so-popular” two-piece dress which looks like a half saree and is worn by young women and girls. Initially worn by ladies of Andhra Pradesh; this attire has now become popular across South India. The dress consists of a blouse, skirt, and a heavy dupatta (means a dupatta with heavy work.) But there are different styles and designs that are now available in the market. And you can see women wearing different kinds of Langa Voni. Some have a heavy blouse whereas some just prefer plain ones. The same goes with the skirt.
7. Kalamkari Saree/ Salwar Kameez
Actually, there is a fabric named Kalamkari and the saree that’s made out of this fabric is popular by this name. And there is a specialty about these sarees other than the fabric itself. Good design Kalamkari Sarees have mythological figures printed on them. There are figures depicting some meaning or a story. With time there were changes in this too! The fabric was used to make Salwar Kameez, and multiple other garments too. But not Kalamkari is being shadowed by many other cheaper fabrics. But if you were to buy clothes made of this fabric, you can look for them in the smaller districts of Andhra Pradesh. There is a catch about the artwork too! You can find Bidri artwork done on this attire.
8. Lambadies
If you were to understand this, you should know that Lambadies is not an attire but a tribal group of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the most popular and adaptive tribal groups of Andhra. The tribal costume that they wear is also known as the traditional attire of Andhra. Where the men prefer the comfortable and elegant Dhoti-Kurta; women prefer blouses with angle-length skirts. It resembles the traditional dress of Rajasthan. Some of the women from this community prefer wearing mirror dupattas with mojadis (footwear). And some prefer stonework and beads. So, there is diversity even in this attire and it depends on person to person what they prefer wearing in today’s world.
9. Pochampally sarees
Have you heard of Ikkat? That’s a kind of saree that’s worn in Andhra Pradesh and is one of their inventions. The Pochampally sarees are made in a specific village of Andhra which is located in the Nalgonda District. And these sarees are popularly known as Ikkat. These sarees are quite amazing and the designs are intuitive.
10. Dharmavaram Sarees
In the list of beautiful and popular sarees; there is another name that has its mentioning and it goes by the name of Dharmavaram Sarees. It is named after the place it originated and made popular from. There is a small town Dharmavaram in the Anantpur District of AP. This place is known for creating some of the most amazing and brilliant bridal sarees. These sarees are made of silk fabric and they have a contrasting pallu with Zari brocade.
Conclusion
So, what do you think about the traditional attire of Andhra Pradesh? Would you like to wear them anytime in any event? The dresses worn by the people of this state reflect the rich and strong culture of Andhra Pradesh. Select the ones that you will like to wear next and try doing it during an event or a festival.
See Also: Traditional dresses of India | Traditional dresses of Kerala
Traditional dresses of Assam | Traditional dresses of Rajasthan
Traditional dresses of Karnataka | Traditional dresses of Tamil Nadu
Traditional dresses of Punjab | Traditional dresses of Sikkim
Traditional dresses of Manipur | Traditional dresses of Odisha
Traditional dresses of Uttarakhand | Traditional dresses of Maharashtra
Traditional dresses of Bihar | Traditional dresses of West Bengal
Traditional dresses of Mizoram | Traditional dresses of Nagaland
