Ralph Lauren bandhani skirt sparks debate

Luxury fashion brand Ralph Lauren is facing criticism online for its Bandhani-inspired cotton skirt priced at ₹44,800. The skirt is listed on its website as a “Print Cotton Wrap Skirt” under the Polo line and comes in a “Tie Dye Multi” colour. While the brand says the design is inspired by traditional Bandhini tie-dye techniques, it has not clearly mentioned India or the original craft’s background.

This has started a debate about cultural appropriation. In the past also, brands like Prada and Ralph Lauren were criticised for using Indian designs like Kolhapuri-style footwear and jhumkas without proper credit. Now again, people are questioning if just saying “inspired” is not  enough when the design is clearly from a specific culture.

Bandhani, also known as Bandhej, is one of the oldest textile arts of India. It is made by tying thousands of tiny knots on fabric and then dyeing to create detailed dotted patterns. This process takes a lot of time, patience and skills. It is not just about fashion, but also has cultural importance, as it is worn during weddings and festivals. 

Real Bandhani work is mainly found in places like Jamnagar and Bhuj, and also in Jaipur and Jodhpur. Many artisans depend on this craft for their living.

This controversy shows that today people care not only about the design but also about where it comes from. They expect big brands to give proper credit and respect to traditional crafts and the people behind them.