THE
FOLKLORICO
DRESS
is
made
out of 
blockprinted
Cotton Indian Bedspreads, (cheapest
of all cottons if you calculate the per yard cost.) Imagine the
bedspread dress with a contrasting, solid yoke often edged with contrasting
bias fabric in a solid, beaded or even embroidered. The bodice and
sleeve edges receive this decorative treatment. The finished garment will
bring 100$ to 200$ in America, England or France however the elements
to make it are inexpensive, bought in India. The design is Afghani where
they use very solid strong cottons and heavy embroidery on the yoke. Their
dresses unfortunately smush down the bustline and are uncomfortable for
bustier western women.
Curry, tabasco colors 
are one color scheme. With the HINDU bedspreads you'll find a lot of
Rousseauesque natural sea foam greens and blues.
THE FOLKLORICO DRESS can be fitted, narrow, long or short. It can be done in subdued neutrals, dark colors, suitable for business or be gaudy and florid for parties. The bedspread dress hand washes well, is air dried partially, then starched and ironed by hand so it's fresh. The only lining appears in the yoke and a pre-shrunk cotton should be used. The dress breathes. It has no polyester. It is exotic and welcomes necklaces and bracelets.
As I could only find a few folk art dresses online, this one is to demonstrate bodice treatment in contrasting print. I prefer the decorative bands, insets be of plain cotton. The block printed bedspread which is wildly printed is used for the greater portions of the garment. Myself, I don't like reds, blacks or browns but some clients will and these are the only colors I could find on the internet to make my points.
BEDSPREADS BY THE DOZEN, WHOLESALE! If you can find a friend who's visiting India who will bring you a few bedspreads from the marketplace, maybe they'd also get the addresses emails and phones of the vendors and get an estimate of what they'd charge you for a DOZEN bedspreads at a time, or two dozen in all your favorite colors. Have them ask what the price would be if they procured three dozen bedspreads at a time, get that information, then you will have a solid foundation for your line, and the initial SAMPLE dresses for it. Or fund their making an ATELIER there in INDIA and you in the big city wholesale the dresses to boutiques and department stores. (Once you have a big business, you go to India and find out what rural villages these cottons are HISTORICALLY made in. Take a video camera and sell the documentary, too.)
FINDING PATTERNS THAT WORK WITH BLOCK PRINT. You have to update most ethnic patterns from online shop "FOLKLORE" Snazz up the 'typical ethnic' dresses by WESTERNIZING them with a low neckline, (SEE BELOW) which modern city girls want. Note that this bathing suit neckline is widely squared off, a real body/shoulder enhancer. Imagine it with a two piece bodice that hugs and lifts the bustline by letting the shoulders carry the yoke, ergo carry the bust. The dress can be empire below, (i.e. full skirted,) but only once it comes in tightly under the breasts. Make some with no sleeves for hot weather but the ethnic dress has sleeves.
Imagine this
as a dress yoke, with a SKIRT!
The puffy sleeve on the photo below
is an option but I think most women would think it too 'period' like the
muttonchop sleeves of the 1800's. You can see a narrow bodice, making top
of body narrow, and the full sleeves and gathered, empire skirt but imagine
it with the LOW, SQUARE neckline above. WOW!
THE ETHNIC DRESS appeals to all women. It looks handmade, like you got it from a MUSEUM. It's artsy craftsy and its owners even want to sequin and bead the bodice a little extra, themselves. Encourage that. Show them what they can do with some braid. Give your business a saucy name. "CURRIED COTTONS" or "FOLKLORICO FROCKS" Colors named "TABASCO RED," "LAPIS BLUE".
Google "ethnic patterns' + folklore patterns, afghani wedding dress, and while you're at it, TORY BURCH designs, she used to do great ethnic embroidered frocks for hundreds each. Oprah adores her.
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