A salwar kameez is a loose suit consisting of a top or kameez and a pair of flowing pants, called salwars, and it is used as traditional dress in many South Asian nations.. Both men and women wear salwar kameez because they are modest in line with Muslim values while also allowing full freedom of movement. Although variations on the salwar kameez are found all over Asia and the Middle East, the traditional salwar kameez is worn in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan by people of all religions.

To wear a salwar kameez, the dresser starts with the salwars, which are traditionally loose, although more modern designs are slightly more form fitting. The salwars are knotted around the waist or held up with an elastic band, and the kameez is pulled down over the head. A traditional kameez is also loose with long sleeves and a tunic like shape that covers the thighs, with slits to allow the legs to move.

A salwar kameez can be made from a wide variety of fabrics, although cotton is the most common. Other choices include silk, gauzes, and linen, and most are embroidered around the neckline and cuffs, although more fancy salwar kameez are abundantly decorated with embroidery and patterned fabrics. Men wear a salwar kameez plain, while women often throw a shawl or dupatta over their heads and necks for modesty.

Modern salwar kameez can get quite racy, with plunging necklines, transparent fabrics, and daring cuts. The wide variation in designs allows women to wear salwar kameez for all occasions, ranging from daily use to attending weddings, while men have some flexibility with styles as well. Women who wear more modern kameez usually wear camisoles underneath for modesty, and some modern dressers wear a kameez over jeans or flowing skirts for a variation in appearance.

In India, many women prefer the salwar kameez to the sari, because it is a more practical garment. Wearing a sari takes practice, and a certain amount of poise: not necessarily things that impoverished women have in plenty. Controversies have erupted over high-ranking women wearing the salwar kameez, rejecting formal saris, as some people in India view the salwar kameez as a lower class garment or associate it with Muslims in Pakistan. The salwar kameez appears to be crossing class and cultural borders all over South Asia despite these barriers, however.