Abstract: This paper studies the state of Bihar, India from the perspective of its distinctive regional background and social cultural milieu. It articulately outlines the emergence of artistic and cultural uniqueness reflected in its people, having common sets of values, social moorings, moral and mythological stand points; styles of adornment through attires, body art, textiles, cosmetics, accessories, which not only gives them a distinctive identity from the rest of the nation and globe at large but also catalyzes the process of shaping the individualistic and divergent regional fashion and aesthetic uniqueness. Not only does this distinctive identity goes on to constitute the language of regional fashion but it transforms the understanding that fashion is not merely western or Euro centric but it also breaks the binary of "west versus the rest". Historically, Bihar had been the place from where the struggle for Indian Independence was initiated by freedom fighters like Gandhi from west Champaran trough the indigo revolution, and thus the symbols of this struggle, like khadi got integrated as a prevalent fabric for dressing up in the region. The paper through the lens of identity, looks into how this nationalistic look related to freedom struggle goes on to becoming the face of a segment of people. The paper also, with a feminist framework, analyses, the married women of Bihar who primarily form the important strata of this state's society and represent it distinctively vis-a-vis other sections of women from other geographical parts of India. The research paper semiotically studies through secondary research method the different symbolism intricately connected to the identity of the Bihari women and men with elements connected to adornment and dressing up. That both khadi and the ethnic Bihari elements of dressing up of men and women is being explored as a raw material by Indian retail brands in a sense to bring culture to the realm of economics and fashion system by challenging the western models of fashion monopoly and Euro centrism.Abstract: This paper studies the state of Bihar, India from the perspective of its distinctive regional background and social cultural milieu. It articulately outlines the emergence of artistic and cultural uniqueness reflected in its people, having common sets of values, social moorings, moral and mythological stand points; styles of adornment through attir...Show More
