Cotton or Polyester?
 

I'm going to India (north) in November and am going to purchase a couple Salwar Kameez suits to take and do not know if I should stick with cotton or if polyester would be okay. Anyone?

i can't imagine using polyester for anything except for using as a rag...its horid stuff...

I would definitely stick with cotton.

Thanks. Most of the Salwar Kameez I see to buy are made of 100% polyester with far less choice in cotton.

For some reason, the ones sold on web sites do tend to b e more polyester.

If you like polyester in your regular life, I'm sure it will be acceptable as November in North India isn't horribly hot.

But I recommend you go with cotton, silk or a poly/cotton blend. It is so much more comfortable and the natural fabrics look nicer.

If you can afford the silk, that is what I would get. The fabric drapes so beautifully and comes in really gorgeous colors and heavy textures, like a Benaraes silk. I know that the shops in the Taj Mahal hotel in Delhi have some lovely ones, you could also buy good Indian silk and have them made. Other than that I would go with cotton as well just because it is more breathable; but I agree with cjstobbs that many of the more inexpensive ones you will find in India will be made of polyester. It is easier to wash (doesn't shred or shrink) and cheaper to buy and does not wrinkle as much. To a lot of people in Asia it is a miracle fabric even in the heat. In places like Malaysia and Indonesia, many chadors and headscarves are even made of it, although I can't think of anything hotter.