History

The Harem Pant or trousers dates back as far as almost 2000 years ago. The term, believed to have originated from tunic-like dresses called Dhoti, was associated commonly with traditional men’s garment in the East.

In 1911, Paris couturier Paul Poiret introduced harem pants as part of his efforts to reinvent and 'liberate' Western female fashion.

The design was then made popular in Western Culture kudos to Amelia Bloomer who took Harem Pants and used them as a uniform for Feminists who wanted to fight for their rights.

“These trousers would represent freedom and liberation with their higher hemlines and masculine connotations.”

Over many years, the design of the pant underwent many different variations in cuts and style. Once worn commonly by men is now frequent among women as well. Soon, traditional became convention in modern fashion as the “loose around the hips and legs” cut became a popular silhouette for many, especially the bourgeois Eastern Europe and Japan.

Despite its rich history, the Harem Pant faced a decline in popularity in the West till the late 80s and 90s when music actually revived the fashion trend.

MC Hammer

“You Can’t Touch This!”, cowritten and performed by MC Hammer from his album Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em in 1990s catapulted the reprisal of the pant. In the music video, Hammer is seen wearing what was termed as “Parachute Pants” or “Hammer Pants”.

The design saw the baggier top half as true to the original Harem Pants but with slimmer cut around the lower leg. The design not only saved on material, but it allowed the wearer freedom of movement whilst creating a zany look.

The Dance and Music Culture Affinity

Inspired by Hammer’s outfit, many music icons soon adopted the fashion trend. It soon became popular amongst dancers and the dance culture because the silhouette allowed for easy movement and offered almost a total freedom of movement. They were soon described as the most popular silhouette in dance culture as it allowed dancers to express themselves effortless through the ease of movement.

Today the Harem Pant exists in many different shapes and sizes. The common feature being the loose fit at the waist and thighs and ankle cut. It has become a staple in many frequent ravers’ wardrobes as it allowed these individuals to rave out on the dance floor and have an undisturbed connection with the music.

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