Indian women are putting away their traditional gear and switching to western wear, report India’s top clothing retailers. According to their recent survey , women in India consider western type of clothing much more comfortable and prefer skirts and trousers to saris and salwar kameez, a long shirt worn over baggy pajamas.

It's been reported that women spent just $165 million on trousers and skirts compared with 1.74 billion dollars spent by men on trousers.

"With more women stepping out to work, the (combined) branded trouser and skirts market has been growing at a whopping 27 percent in sales terms," Images Multimedia publishing house said, citing the nationwide survey of retailers.

"Western influence is growing as people watch TV and films and style their own fashion in a contemporary manner," said Images editorial director R.S. Roy, according to tehrantimes.com.

Women say they find Western clothing more convenient, especially when working or using public transportation. Many offices now also prefer their employees to wear Western wear.

"We prefer trousers to skirts because Indian men gape at legs and besides trousers are easier to wear," said Indian mountaineer Reema Rai, who has scaled peaks around the world.

"The younger ones are shopping for cotton capris and short tops while working women like trousers and fitted shirts that don't interfere when they're driving or working," said Meenal Verma who runs an up-market New Delhi boutique.

Shopping malls, selling branded clothes, have been growing in India like mushrooms, attracting youngsters.