Salwar Kameez is to South Asia as a jeans-and-shirts combination is to people in America. Some decades ago, this ensemble was worn by immigrant South Asian Women looking for the proverbial greener grass on the other side. Nowadays, it is an ensemble of high fashion (think skinny jeans flowing ponchos). Salwar is actually a Persian word for pants, and kameez is derived from the Arabic word qamis, which was in turn, derived from camisia - the Latin word for shirt.
India is a melting pot of people and peoples; more so during earlier times. Civilization has always thrived among places near bodies of water for the reason that it makes transport (and consequently trading) of goods easier. And in the Indus basin, people from all over Asia and other Muslim countries from the West and North, as well as those from Central Asia (South China) flock to the place to trade. Trading was more than just an exchange of products though; it caused races to be aware of various cultures.
However, this is not to downplay the role of religious zealots in getting people exposed to other races and cultures; to the contrary, this can, in a way, support the claim that salwar kameez was brought by Muslims. After all, shalwar kameez has always been regarded not only as South Asian clothes but also as clothes worn by Muslims.
Tracing the history of shalwar kameez in detail is no small feat. The problem is not with the lack of sources though. It is quite the opposite; there are too many descriptions in historical passages, and more that are lyrical instead of literal. In the past, when people, especially poets, talk of outfits, they usually have the outfits of the royalty in mind. As a result, it is often the case that the beauty and magnificence, and not the bland descriptions of textiles and patterns were recorded.
When it comes to popularity, salwar kameez is a close second to the Indian Sari. Indians have always this high regard for unstitched garments. To wear clothes straight-off-the-loom is the order of the day. This resulted to the general belief that Indians didn’t do much sewing until the later centuries. Now, if only the period when sewing became prevalent in Indian society can be pinpointed (and the mandatory proofs, archeological and otherwise, presented), there wouldn’t have been much debate about the history of salwar kameez.
The earliest time to which the introduction of salwar kameez to the Indian society can be traced is the 12th century. It is said that during this period, Punjabs or Turko-Iranian horse-riding nomads from Central Asia may have brought the ensemble to the country. Those tribes have, at that time, already converted to Muslim, and as more conservative clothes are a must, the salwar kameez became their choice in clothing. It has to be stressed that while salwar kameez is associated with Muslim; it is also often worn by people of other religions.
Nowadays, salwar kameez is popular not only in India but in Pakistan and other South Asian countries as well. A fact that isn’t surprising at all, considering that salwar kameez is one versatile, comfortable and stylish outfit.
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