The waistcoat is the layer that turns a daura suruwal into formal dress. Nepali men have worn a kot over the daura since the nineteenth century, when a coat gifted to Prime Minister Jang Bahadur Rana in England came home and was worn over the national dress, and the sleeveless version has stayed on through every Dashain, Tihar and wedding since. Gurung men call it the askot, Tamang men the zwarikot; across the hills it is simply the kot, and when it is cut in dhaka it is the one that says where its wearer comes from.
The fronts here are a smooth cotton with dhaka geometry printed on, in three patterns: a red check, a maroon diagonal and a teal ikat, each with the stepped peaks and diamonds of dhaka cloth. The cut is a classic five-button waistcoat with a V-neck, two welt pockets at the hip and a welt pocket at the chest for a square, and the back is black satin with a buckle strap so the waist can be drawn in over a shirt or a daura. Each waistcoat is cut only after you order and checked for fit, finishing and cultural accuracy before it ships. Each one is tailor-made to your measurements — after ordering, Bhutib contacts you directly to confirm fit and preferences.
Wear it over a cream daura shirt with its own dhaka border and a topi for a wedding or Dashain, or over a white shirt and trousers on any formal day; it belongs with the daura suruwal, topis and waistcoats of Nepali men’s dress. Each waistcoat is stitched for Bhutib in a small workshop in Kalimpong.
| Garment type |
Men’s waistcoat (kot, askot), V-neck, five buttons |
| Construction |
Printed dhaka cotton fronts, black satin back with buckle strap, welt pockets |
| Cultural wear |
Nepali men of every hill community, over the daura suruwal for Dashain, Tihar, weddings and formal functions |
| Styling |
With a daura suruwal and dhaka topi; also over a shirt and trousers |
Questions buyers ask
Is the dhaka handwoven? No. The dhaka pattern is printed on cotton, which keeps the waistcoat light and the price low. A handwoven dhaka waistcoat shows raised threads and floating yarns on the inside; this one is smooth on both faces.
Does it fit over a daura? Yes. It is cut to sit over the daura’s wrap front, and the back strap takes in the waist so it does not ride up when you sit.
Which print should I choose? The red check is the most traditional with a white daura; the maroon diagonal reads darker for evening; the teal ikat is the one to pick over a plain shirt.
