The graceful Uttarakhand, adjacent to the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, is the dwelling of the ethnic communities, the Garhwalis and the Kumaoni. Side by side, many Punjabis, Bengalis, and even Nepalis, from neighbouring Tibet, has settled in the state of Uttaranchal.

The Garhwals residing in the Garhwal hills of Uttaranchal or Uttar Pradesh, follow a costume-pattern suitable to the climatic conditions of the place they belong to. Wool fetched from goat or sheep is used to manufacture warm costumes, so as to ward off the biting cold in winter season.

Ghagri , a oriental long skirt , topped off by a Choli, an Indian blouse and an Orni, a cloth covering the head and the front portion, usually fastened to the waist , happen to be the traditional costume of the ethnic groups, namely, the Garhwalis and the Kumaonis.

The traditional bridal costume of the Kumaoni is Ghaghra-Pichora, akin to Ghaghra-Choli. Pichora is a Kumaoni veil or Rangwali, endowed with gold and silver tatting. But women also go for saris. The hallmarks of Kumaoni woman are sindoor smeared on the forehead, and an enormous gold ring, called Nath. Further, Chareu, a black beaded necklace is worn by the married woman, is a holy accessory for Garhwali married woman. A luxury ornament item is Hansuli, a kind of necklace, preferred in gold by the rich, and in silver, by the less affluent, or poor.

Some of the ethnic groups, drape themselves in mantle-like clothing , called Sarong, girdled by a waistband and completed with a top-blouse.

Muslin textiles, specially muslin veils or Rangwalis are assets of Uttaranchal costume designing. They come in auspicious hues of yellow, signifying warmth and cordiality and red, symbolic of the holy bond of marriage.

The traditional male costume of Uttaranchal is the loin-cloth Dhoti, or the Lungi, used as the lower-garment. The Uttaranchal man dons him in Kurtas, to serve as upper-attire . The men love to present themselves with headgear, or turban, a part of their traditional costume. Kurta-Pajamas is another good alternative for men of Uttarakhand.

Both women and men wear sweaters or woolen jackets in winter, mainly sleeveless in form.

Ethnicity and tradition has very well been maneuvered to be at par with convenience, when it comes to considering the costumes of Uttarakhand.