Sherwani

The founders of Aligarh movement wearing sherwani, Nawab Mohsin ul Mulk (left), Sir Syed Ahmed Khan (centre), Justice Syed Mahmood (right).

Like Urdu, Sherwani is the symbol of Muslims of Sub Continent. This is the image of a peaceful protest by the supporters of Pakistan movement in which Muslims could been seen wearing Sherwani, a Muslim Female could also be seen wearing a Female Sherwani. Pre mature Pakistani Flags / Green Ottoman Flags are also visible in the picture.

According to Emma Tarlo, the sherwani evolved from a Persian cape (balaba or chapkan), which was gradually given a more Indian form (angarkha), and finally developed into the sherwani, with buttons down the front, following European fashion.[2] It originated in the 19th century British India as the European style court dress of regional Mughal Muslim nobles and royals of northern India,[3] before being more generally adopted in the late 19th century. It appeared first at Lucknow in the 1820s.[4] It was gradually adopted by rest of the Muslim royalty and aristocracy of Subcontinent, and later by the general population, as a more evolved form of occasional traditional attire. The name of attire is possibly derived from Shirvan or Sherwan, a region of present-day Azerbaijan due to the folk dress of that area (Chokha) which resembles Sherwani in its outlook. Therefore, the garment may also be a direct derivative of the Caucasian dress due to ethnic and cultural linkages of Muslims of Subcontinent with other Muslim regions. Like Urdu, Sherwani also became a symbol of Muslims during Aligarh Movement and Pakistan Movement.

In Bangladesh, the sherwani is worn by people on formal occasions such as weddings and Eid.

In India, the achkan sherwani is generally worn for formal occasions in winter, especially by those from Rajasthan, Punjab, Delhi, Jammu, Uttar Pradesh and Hyderabad.[5][6] The achkan sherwani is generally associated with the Hindus while the simple sherwani was historically favoured by Muslims.[7] The two garments have significant similarities, though sherwanis typically are more flared at the hips and achkans are lengthier than simple sherwanis. The achkan later evolved into the Nehru Jacket, which is popular in India.[8] In India, the achkan or sherwani is generally worn with the combination of Churidar as the lower garment.[9]

• 
  Jawaharlal Nehru (left) wearing an achkan sherwani with churidar.[10]
• 
  Achkan sherwani and churidar (lower body) worn by Arvind Singh Mewar and his kin during a Hindu wedding in Rajasthan, India.

Jinnah (right) addressing the Constituent Assembly on 14 August 1947, wearing a sherwani.

After the independence of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah frequently wore the sherwani.[11] Following him, most people and government officials in Pakistan such as the President and Prime Minister started to wear the formal black sherwani over the shalwar qameez on state occasions and national holidays. General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq made it compulsory for all officers to wear sherwani on state occasions and national holidays.

• 
  Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, is sitting on the Chair of Governor General, sometimes referred as Pakistan's Throne, wearing Sherwani.
• 
  Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, is wearing a Sherwani and Jinnah Cap.
• 
  Muhammad Ali Jinnah (right), founder of Pakistan, is standing with his sister Fatima Jinnah (left), Leading member of Pakistan Movement. Muhammad Ali Jinnah is wearing a Sherwani and Fatima Jinnah is also wearing a female Sherwani.
• 
  Muhammad Ali Jinnah (left), founder of Pakistan, is standing with his sister Fatima Jinnah (centre), Leading member of Pakistan Movement and Mumtaz Shahnawaz (right), another Leading member of Pakistan Movement and a Pakistani Diplomat. All of them are wearing Sherwani.
• 
  Fatima Jinnah (centre), Leading member of Pakistan Movement, is wearing a non-traditional and stylish Female Sherwani with Fur design on it.
• 
  Muhammad Ali Jinnah (left), founder of Pakistan, is sitting with Liaqat Ali Khan (centre), leading founding member of Pakistan and Hafeez Jalandhri (right), Leading member of Pakistan Movement and writer of National Anthem of Pakistan. All of them are wearing Sherwani.
• 
  Muhammad Ali Jinnah (right), founder of Pakistan, is standing with his sister Fatima Jinnah (left), Leading member of Pakistan Movement. Muhammad Ali Jinnah is wearing a Sherwani and Fatima Jinnah is also wearing a female Sherwani.

In Sri Lanka, it was generally worn as the formal uniform of Mudaliyars and early Tamil legislators during the British colonial period.

Sherwanis are mostly worn in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.[12] These garments usually feature detailed embroidery or patterns. One major difference between sherwani wearing habits is the choice of lower garment, while in India, the dress is distinguished by their preference for churidars or dhotis, in Pakistan and Bangladesh, it is mainly worn with shalwar instead.

Sherwanis have also been designed by the Indian designer, Rohit Bal for British Airways cabin crews serving on flights to India. Music director A.R. Rahman also appeared in a black sherwani to receive an Academy Award.

Pakistani journalist, filmmaker and activist, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy appeared in sherwani to receive Academy Award in 2012 and 2015.[13][14][15][16][17]

• Achkan
• Angarkha
• Coat
• Frock coat
• Jodhpuri
• Chokha