Trends In The Indian Fashion And Textile Industries - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Practice Test Plus 3 Academic Reading Test 6 · Part 1 · Questions 1–13
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.
Trends in the Indian fashion and textile industries
During the 1950s, the Indian fashion scene was exciting, stylish and very graceful. There were no celebrity designers or models, nor were there any labels that were widely recognised. The value of a garment was judged by its style and fabric rather than by who made it. It was regarded as perfectly acceptable, even for high-society women, to approach an unknown tailor who could make a garment for a few rupees, providing the perfect fit, finish and style. They were proud of getting a bargain, and of giving their own name to the end result.
The 1960s was an era full of mischievousness and celebration in the arts, music and cinema. The period was characterised by freedom from restrictions and, in the fashion world, an acceptance of innovative types of material such as plastic and coated polyester. Tight-fitting kurtas* and churidars** and high coiffures were a trend among women.
The following decade witnessed an increase in the export of traditional materials, and the arrival in India of international fashion. Synthetics became trendy, and the disco culture affected the fashion scene.
It was in the early 80s when the first fashion store 'Ravissant' opened in Mumbai. At that time garments were retailed for a four-figure price tag. American designers like Calvin Klein became popular. In India too, contours became more masculine, and even the salwar kameez*** was designed with shoulder pads.
With the evolution of designer stores came the culture of designer fashion, along with its hefty price tags. Whatever a garment was like, consumers were convinced that a higher price tag signified elegant designer fashion, so garments were sold at unbelievable prices. Meanwhile, designers decided to get themselves noticed by making showy outfits and associating with the right celebrities. Soon, fashion shows became competitive, each designer attempting to out-do the other in theme, guest list and media coverage.
In the last decade of the millennium, the market shrank and ethnic wear made a comeback. During the recession, there was a push to sell at any cost. With fierce competition the inevitable occurred: the once hefty price tags began their downward journey, and the fashion-show industry followed suit. However, the liveliness of the Indian fashion scene had not ended - it had merely reached a stable level.
At the beginning of the 21st century, with new designers and models, and more sensible designs, the fashion industry accelerated once again. As far as the global fashion industry is concerned, Indian ethnic designs and materials are currently in demand from fashion houses and garment manufacturers. India is the third largest producer of cotton, the second largest producer of silk, and the fifth largest producer of man-made fibres in the world.
The Indian garment and fabric industries have many fundamental advantages, in terms of a cheaper, skilled work force, cost-effective production, raw materials, flexibility, and a wide range of designs with sequins, beadwork, and embroidery. In addition, that India provides garments to international fashion houses at competitive prices, with a shorter lead time, and an effective monopoly on certain designs, is accepted the whole world over. India has always been regarded as the default source in the embroidered garments segment, but changes in the rate of exchange between the rupee and the dollar has further depressed prices, thereby attracting more buyers. So the international fashion houses walk away with customised goods, and craftwork is sold at very low rates.
As far as the fabric market is concerned, the range available in India can attract as well as confuse the buyer. Much of the production takes place in the small town of Chapa in the eastern state of Bihar, a name one might never have heard of. Here fabric-making is a family industry; the range and quality of raw silks churned out here belie the crude production methods and equipment. Surat in Gujarat, is the supplier of an amazing set of jacquards, moss crepes and georgette sheers - all fabrics in high demand. Another Indian fabric design that has been adopted by the fashion industry is the 'Madras check', originally utilised for the universal lungi, a simple lower-body wrap worn in southern India. This design has now found its way on to bandannas, blouses, home furnishings and almost anything one can think of.
Ethnic Indian designs with batik and hand-embroidered motifs have also become popular across the world. Decorative bead work is another product in demand in the international market. Beads are used to prepare accessory items like belts and bags, and beadwork is now available for haute couture evening wear too.
* knee-length tunics
** trousers
*** trouser suit
Questions
Questions 1–7 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Indian fashion: 1950–2000
1950s
- No well-known designers, models or 1
- Elegant clothing cost little
- Women were pleased to get clothes for a 2 price
1960s
- New materials, e.g. 3 and polyester
- Fitted clothing and tall hairstyles
1970s
- Overseas sales of 4 fabrics rose
- Influence of international fashion
1980s
- Opening of fashion store in Mumbai
- Popularity of American designers
- Clothing had a 5 shape
- Designers tried to attract attention by presenting 6 clothes and mixing with stars
1990s
- Fall in demand for expensive fashion wear
- Return to 7 clothing
Questions 8–13 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
Write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | labels | There were no celebrity designers or models, nor were there any labels that were widely recognised | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that in the 1950s, there were no famous people designing clothes, no famous models, and no well-known brand names (labels). Answer Explanation: The answer 'labels' refers to the brand names or tags on clothes that tell people who made them. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the description of the 1950s in the first paragraph. The text explains that during this time, people did not focus on famous designers or specific brand names. Instead, the quality of the clothing was more important than the name on the tag. The words 'no celebrity designers or models' in the passage are followed by 'nor were there any labels', which perfectly completes the sentence in the notes asking for what was missing along with designers and models. |
| Q2 | bargain | They were proud of getting a bargain, and of giving their own name to the end result | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that women felt a sense of pride and happiness when they were able to obtain fashionable clothes at a significantly reduced or cheap cost. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'bargain', which refers to buying something for a very good or low price that is much less than its actual value. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'bargain' because the passage describes the 1950s as a time when even wealthy women would use unknown tailors to make high-quality clothes for just a few rupees. The text mentions that these women 'were proud of getting a bargain', which matches the idea in the prompt that they were 'pleased' (proud) to get clothes for a specific type of price. |
| Q3 | plastic | The period was characterised by freedom from restrictions and, in the fashion world, an acceptance of innovative types of material such as plastic and coated polyester | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that during the 1960s, designers wanted to try different things and used new materials like plastic to create clothing. Answer Explanation: The answer is plastic, which is a type of man-made material that became popular for making clothes during the 1960s. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in the paragraph about the 1960s. The text mentions that during this time, the fashion world began to use and accept new kinds of materials. It specifically lists plastic and polyester as examples of these new materials. |
| Q4 | traditional | The following decade witnessed an increase in the export of traditional materials, and the arrival in India of international fashion | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that in the 10 years after 1960 (the 1970s), there was a growth in selling old-style Indian materials to other countries. Answer Explanation: The answer means things that have been a part of a country's culture or style for a very long time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'traditional' because the text talks about the 1970s (the decade following the 1960s) having a rise in selling materials from India to other countries. The phrase 'overseas sales' in the question matches the word 'export' in the text. The text specifically says that the export of these 'traditional' materials increased during this time. |
| Q5 | masculine | In India too, contours became more masculine, and even the salwar kameez was designed with shoulder pads | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that in India during the 1980s, the shapes of clothes began to look more like men's fashion, including the use of shoulder pads in traditional outfits. Answer Explanation: The answer 'masculine' means that the shape of the clothes started to look more like clothing styles usually worn by men. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in the paragraph about the 1980s. The text explains that during this time, 'contours' (which is another word for the shape or outline of something) became more 'masculine' in India. It even mentions that a type of dress called the salwar kameez was made with shoulder pads to achieve this stronger, man-like look. |
| Q6 | showy | Meanwhile, designers decided to get themselves noticed by making showy outfits and associating with the right celebrities | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that fashion designers wanted people to know who they were. To do this, they made clothes that were very easy to see and notice, and they spent time with famous people. Answer Explanation: The answer "showy" describes clothes that are very bright, fancy, or large because they are made to catch people's attention. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "showy" because the text explains how designers tried to become famous during the time when designer stores were growing. It says they wanted to "get themselves noticed," so they created "showy outfits" (clothes) and spent time with famous people, which the question calls "stars." |
| Q7 | ethnic | In the last decade of the millennium, the market shrank and ethnic wear made a comeback | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that in the 1990s, fewer people were buying expensive clothes and traditional Indian styles became popular once more. Answer Explanation: The answer is a word describing a style of clothing that people started wearing again in the 1990s. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'ethnic' because the text explains what happened during the 1990s, which is called the 'last decade of the millennium'. During this time, the market for expensive clothes got smaller (shrank) and 'ethnic wear'—which refers to traditional styles—became popular again or 'made a comeback'. Return to ethnic clothing is a synonym for ethnic wear making a comeback. |
| Q8 | TRUE | At the beginning of the 21st century, with new designers and models, and more sensible designs, the fashion industry accelerated once again | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that at the start of the 21st century, the fashion business in India grew quickly because there were new people making the clothes and the clothing styles became better and more practical. Answer Explanation: The answer TRUE means that the statement matches the information provided in the reading passage. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage explains that at the start of the 2000s (the 21st century), the Indian fashion business saw several changes. It mentions the arrival of 'new' designers and models, and that clothing styles became 'more sensible,' which means they became more practical or easy to wear. These are the 'key elements' that changed to help the industry grow or 'accelerate' once more. |
| Q9 | NOT GIVEN | India is the third largest producer of cotton, the second largest producer of silk, and the fifth largest producer of man-made fibres in the world | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that India is one of the top countries for growing cotton, but it provides no information about how much of this material is actually sold to international markets. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the text does not tell us what percentage of the cotton grown in India is sold to other countries. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage only discusses how much cotton India grows (production) relative to other countries, but it never mentions the specific amount or percentage of that cotton that is sent abroad (exported). Since the text does not contain any statistics comparing production to exports, we cannot determine if the statement is true or false. |
| Q10 | TRUE | The Indian garment and fabric industries have many fundamental advantages, in terms of a cheaper, skilled work force, cost-effective production, raw materials, flexibility, and a wide range of designs with sequins, beadwork, and embroidery | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that India is a great place to make clothes because it has many benefits, such as workers who have good skills but work for less money, low costs to make products, and plenty of materials available to use. Answer Explanation: The answer is TRUE, which means the text supports the idea that India is a very good place for making clothes. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage explains that the Indian clothing industry has many 'fundamental advantages.' These advantages include having a 'skilled work force' (people who are good at making clothes), 'cost-effective production' (making things at a low price), and plenty of 'raw materials' (the supplies needed to make fabric). These factors create the perfect 'conditions' for manufacturing items. |
| Q11 | FALSE | India has always been regarded as the default source in the embroidered garments segment, but changes in the rate of exchange between the rupee and the dollar has further depressed prices, thereby attracting more buyers | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that when the value of the Indian rupee changed compared to the US dollar, clothing prices became lower. This price drop actually helped India find more people who wanted to buy their clothes. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the claim that India's clothing sales to other countries were harmed by money value changes is incorrect. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage explains that changes in the value of money (the exchange rate) actually made the items cheaper. Instead of causing the export business to suffer, these lower prices were helpful because they ended up attracting more buyers to purchase Indian goods. Therefore, the effect was positive for finding customers rather than negative as the statement suggests. |
| Q12 | FALSE | Here fabric-making is a family industry; the range and quality of raw silks churned out here belie the crude production methods and equipment | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that silk making in Chapa is a family business that uses very basic (crude) tools and methods. It says the high quality of the silk is surprising because the equipment used to make it is so simple. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE because the high quality of silk from Chapa is not due to modern machines; in fact, the equipment used there is very basic and simple. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage describes the production methods and equipment in Chapa as 'crude.' In this context, 'crude' means simple, basic, or old-fashioned, which is the opposite of 'modern.' The text notes that the high quality of the silk exists despite these simple methods, which directly contradicts the statement that modern machinery is responsible for the quality. |
| Q13 | TRUE | Another Indian fabric design that has been adopted by the fashion industry is the 'Madras check', originally utilised for the universal lungi, a simple lower-body wrap worn in southern India | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the 'Madras check' pattern is now part of the big fashion world, but it was first used for a very simple type of clothing worn by ordinary people. This proves it had a simple or 'humble' start. Answer Explanation: The answer is true because the passage mentions that some popular Indian designs started as very basic or simple items used in everyday life. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by the passage when it talks about the 'Madras check'. This fabric design is now used by the global fashion industry for many different products. However, the text explains that it started as a 'lungi', which is just a simple piece of cloth people wrap around their lower bodies in southern India. Using the word 'humble' in the question refers to something starting in a simple, modest, or non-expensive way, which matches the description of the lungi. Additionally, the passage mentions that high-quality fabrics are produced in small towns using very basic ('crude') methods and equipment, which also supports the idea of humble beginnings for famous materials. |