Use of metal in Indian fashion

India has always been a great fan of gold – be it about wearing it or keeping in bank lockers.

The common man in India treat metal with a lot of importance in their daily life. Many metals have found great value in religious rituals too. Many metals have been used for health reasons as well. But the most favourite metal for Indians – specially women – is gold accessory. Many of the Indian traditions from different religions have given the gold metal an important place. Many important jewelry with traditional value are made ut of gold. One can very well understand the infinite love for gold among Indians. So much so, that gold have got easy inroads in the apparel worn by them.

Banarasi sarees and Zardosi are few of the many beautiful examples of gold being incorporated in various forms of dresses in India. The gold metal superfine threads are woven into the fabric as well as used in intricate embroidery for surface ornamentation. The craft of infusing metal into dresses has won hearts abroad as well. 

Fashion designers, who work with metal as their basic fabric or material are called Metal Couturier. This craft needs very careful study and experience with metals. Many accessory designers have turned into metal couturiers – who now design dresses made from metals. Paco Rabanne was one of the earliest designer from Spain to use metal as the basic material for dresses. Another Spanish designer Manual Albarann worked on this difficult material too. India has her own metal couturier Rimzim Dadu, who has been designing metal dresses for a long time - an example below (pic courtesy : Rimzim Dadu) 

Other than gold, other metals being used in the apparel industry are silver, stainless steel, copper & aluminium. Many of these are used in the form of trims (buttons, zippers, etc.). Many of the official uniforms in Indian army use metal as trims as well as in the gallantry awards and medals.

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