Episodes

  • Ep10: Muslin - the woven air

    Ep10: Muslin - the woven air
    Sep 8 2024
    What is muslin? Why is it famous? When did it first appear, and why did it decline? Did the British really cut off the hands of weavers? These, and everything else on muslin discussed in this episode.
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    16 mins
  • Ep9: Gender neutral fashion in India

    Ep9: Gender neutral fashion in India
    Sep 6 2024
    In conversation with Neha Suradkar, fashion educator and stylist, about the history of gender-neutral clothing in India, and how contemporary designers are exploring new ideas.
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    39 mins
  • Ep8: Cross-dressing in India

    Ep8: Cross-dressing in India
    Jun 24 2024
    India has a long history of cross-dressing practices. Indian fashion in pre-colonial times was often free of gender norms. This episode explores the heritage of cross-dressing in the subcontinent - from scriptures to films, and challenges the prevalent concept of gendered clothes.
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    13 mins
  • Ep7: Indian men’s fashion from colonial times Ft The Common Man

    Ep7: Indian men’s fashion from colonial times Ft The Common Man
    Apr 24 2024
    Part 3 of the history of men’s fashion in India focusing on modern times. How did British influence affect the way Indian men dressed?
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    17 mins
  • Ep6: Indian men’s fashion in medieval times Ft Mughal-e-Azam

    Ep6: Indian men’s fashion in medieval times Ft Mughal-e-Azam
    Apr 13 2024
    Part 2 of the history of men’s fashion in India focusing on medieval India. How did Islamic rule influence clothing of Indian men?
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    14 mins
  • Ep5: Indian men’s fashion in ancient times Ft Ashoka the Great

    Ep5: Indian men’s fashion in ancient times Ft Ashoka the Great
    Apr 2 2024
    Part 1 of the history of men’s fashion in India focusing on ancient times. How did early Indians dress?
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    12 mins
  • Ep4: Sherwani, the origin story

    Ep4: Sherwani, the origin story
    Feb 17 2024
    This is the origin story of one of the most loved men’s garments of India, the Sherwani. Contrary to popular belief, it was neither a Rajput, nor Mughal clothing, but a 19th century fashion invention! In this episode textile historian Dr Toolika Gupta takes us through the history of the Sherwani.
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    1 hr
  • Ep3: Chintz, the Indian textile banned in Britain!

    Ep3: Chintz, the Indian textile banned in Britain!
    Feb 6 2024
    Once a firm favourite of European elites, the handcrafted Indian chintz is a textile of legendary repute. Constant protests from British weavers eventually prompted the British parliament to ban its import. But, it could not make it disappear. What followed next? And how did it decline? Senior textile historian Dr Sarah Fee, senior curator of Royal Ontario Museum joins me, as I discover why chintz is regarded as the cloth that changed the world.
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    1 hr