Shalwar Pants Item Number: 2878/17 b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Long red pants with overall repeating design. The design is in a Chinese style depicting trees, flowers, houses with slanted roofs, and people paddling in boats and walking near trees. The waist is created by folding over the excess material and stitching it closed, thus you are able to see the backside of the Chinese print. The waistline has been sewn in such a way that there is an opening in the centre. In this space, are several pink threads braided together with the ends loose. These threads hold the pants around the wearer’s waist. The pant cuffs have eight repeated lines of stitching.
Narrative
This traditional Chitrali woman's outfit (with 2878/17 a) is made of imported shot-weave Chinese 'art silk' in a colour and style suitable for a wedding costume. Chitrali (Kho) women's everyday wear is cotton and festive clothes are predominantly synthetics. This costume was sewn by Kho tailors in the Chitral Bazaar on treadle-type sewing machines. It is executed in the traditional 1970s style - the shalwar pants are very loose fitting and gathered at the waist with a knotted rope (this is a year-round style and one that accommodates pregnancy). The pant legs and cuffs are designed wide enough to extend down to the foot, thus modestly covering the ankles. The designs on the pant cuffs and shirt cuffs are don by treadle sewing machine using repeated lines of stitching. The buttonholes on the shirt are hand finished by a tailor's assistant who trains from boyhood in the tailor's shop.
Item History
- Made in Chitral, Northwest Frontier, Pakistan during 1976
- Owned by Tamarin Productions Inc. before May 4, 2011
- Received from Tamarin Productions Inc. (Seller) and Ruth Read Bequest (Funding source) on May 4, 2011
What
- Name
- Shalwar Pants
- Identification Number
- 2878/17 b
- Type of Item
- pant
- Material
- silk fibre, cotton fibre and plastic
- Overall
- height 107.1 cm, width 94.2 cm
Who
- Culture
- Chitrali
- Previous Owner
- Tamarin Productions Inc.
- Received from
- Tamarin Productions Inc. (Seller) and Ruth Read Bequest (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Chitral, Northwest Frontier, Pakistan
When
- Creation Date
- during 1976
- Ownership Date
- before May 4, 2011
- Acquisition Date
- on May 4, 2011
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 2878/0017 b