What Are Harem Pants? Names, Meaning & Origin
Harem pants are loose trousers with a dropped crotch, roomy legs and a gathered ankle. They go by many names, and their history spans Turkey, Persia, South Asia and Paris. Here's what they're called, where they came from, and why men wear them today.
What are harem pants called in India?
In India, harem pants are commonly sold as Aladdin pants, dhoti pants, Afghani pants or drop-crotch pants. Their shape has some similarities with traditional garments like the dhoti, which drapes low between the legs, and the salwar, which is loose at the top and gathered at the ankle, though each is made differently.
You'll see all of these names on Indian shopping sites. "Afghani" refers to the loose salwar style worn in Afghanistan and North India. "Dhoti pants" is used for stitched pants that copy the dhoti's draped look.
What are harem pants called now?
Today, harem pants are often sold as drop-crotch pants, Aladdin pants, boho pants, hippie pants, yoga pants or sarouel pants. The name varies by brand and market, but the shape stays the same: generous room through the seat and thighs, narrowing to a cuff or gathered hem at the ankle.
Some brands now prefer descriptive names because the word "harem" has dated, exoticised associations. "Drop-crotch" is one of the most neutral terms in use today.
What is another word for harem pants?
Other words for harem pants include Aladdin pants, drop-crotch pants, genie pants, sarouel (French), şalvar (Turkish), shalwar or salwar (South Asian) and sirwal (Arabic). In India, "dhoti pants" and "Afghani pants" are also common. All describe loose trousers that are full at the hips and tapered at the ankle.
| Name | Where it's used | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Aladdin pants | India, worldwide | Popular retail name |
| Drop-crotch pants | Worldwide fashion | Neutral, descriptive term |
| Dhoti pants | India | Stitched pants with a dhoti look |
| Afghani pants | India, Pakistan | Loose salwar-style fit |
| Şalvar | Turkey | Traditional Turkish trousers |
| Shalwar / salwar | South Asia | Worn with kameez or kurta |
| Sirwal | Arab world | Traditional loose trousers |
| Sarouel | France | French term for the style |
What is the real name of harem pants?
There isn't one single "real" name. "Harem pants" is a Western label for traditional garments that already had their own names, such as the Turkish şalvar, the South Asian shalwar and the Arabic sirwal. The term became popular in Europe around 1910–1911, when designer Paul Poiret introduced the style to Paris fashion.
So the most accurate answer depends on the garment's origin. For the style most Indian brands sell today, "drop-crotch pants" or "Aladdin pants" are the common modern names.
What is the original purpose of harem pants?
The traditional garments behind harem pants, such as the Turkish şalvar and the South Asian shalwar, were everyday clothing. Their loose cut suited hot climates and allowed easy movement. Western fashion adopted the shape in the early 1900s, when designer Paul Poiret introduced it in Paris.
Comfort and freedom of movement are also why many people choose them today for yoga, travel and festivals.
Enimane harem pants
Enimane's harem pants are made in India in 100% cotton and a polyester-cotton mix, with tribal, mandala, floral and Arabic prints, an elastic waist with drawstring and a side pocket, in Free Size and Plus Size. Shop men's harem pants
Source: Harem pants, Wikipedia
