Unknown Maker, Indian

The open coat and trouser ensemble traveled not only westward, but also southward from Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent. Though coats, tunics, and other stitched garments pre-existed the establishment of Islam in India, it was the Muslim Mughal rulers who inspired the widespread fashion for wearing these garments in the elite courts. The early Mughal rulers also saw fit to establish and support royal weaving workshops throughout the country. With this patronage, traditional techniques such as the breathtakingly intricate tapestry weave used to construct this coat soared to new heights, enabling veritable recreations of heavenly gardens in garment form.