The gamcha gang of Bollywood

So you thought that Salman made the gamcha part of pop culture? Read directly to trace the rage humble rise to fame

What started out as a trifling utilitarian object, used for obvious purposes, the gamcha has now become probably the most iconic accessories in Bollywood.

While Govinda frolicked at the screen with a gamcha casually thrown around his neck in numerous of his films, Amitabh Bachchan exuded some serious rustic charm through his own set in Bunty Aur Babli.

And now Salman Khan has sparked off an enormous trend among amchi Mumbaikars, who've been spotted wearing similar versions of the houndstooth patterned gamcha he sports in Ek Tha Tiger.

The ubiquitous gamcha has even travelled abroad. Well it is advisable to say, Anurag Kashyap has single-handedly championed the reason for this bolt of material.

Among the coutured glitterati at this year's Cannes Film Festival, there has been no missing the filmmaker and his 'gang' of actors sporting the gamcha before the screening of Gangs of Wasseypur.

As the shutterbugs went into an overdrive seeking to comprehend this 'new-found' fashion accessory, the gamcha appeared to be basking within the glow, resting smugly atop Anurag's Dior tuxedo. Well it's good to day, the Gamcha had arrived!

If luxury label Hermes lays its claim to creating probably the most finest scarves within the world, the Indian gamcha isn't far behind. While the Hermes scarf lives across generations taking a family heirloom status, the gamcha too exchanges hands as repeatedly!

Daddy dearest uses it within the bath, mummy tucks it into the waistband of her saree within the kitchen, Sonu-Monu play tug of war with it, and Kanta ben dusts your expensive sofa all with similar versions of the usual red gamcha!

Sallu's black and white houndstooth scarf/keffiah could be only a distant cousin of the red gamcha, albeit a couple of shades more sophisticated in appearance.

Akshay Kumar wore the gamcha as headgear in Tashan. The scarf/stole that has essentially been associated as a woman's accessory channelised Aamir Khan's macho appeal in Ghajini.

With fashion trends fading away on the pace of colour draining from autumnal leaves, we won't guarantee if the houndstooth gamcha is here to stick. But for now, say aye and grab one with both your hands!

The history of the houndstoothIncidentally, the houndstooth pattern that may be said to have originated in Scotland didn't consistently find favour with the rage industry. The houndstooth was finally recognised as a robust style statement by Coco Chanel, who single-handedly redefined woman's fashion.In fact, a glimpse on the brief history of the motif indicates that it was only within the later a part of the decade that houndstooth found prominence among global luxury brands akin to Moschino, Armani and Louis Vuitton. Closer home, Bollywood fashionistas like Sonam Kapoor have embraced the craze with open arms.

Courtesy: Mid-Day.com