Ralph Lauren faces backlash again over bandhani skirt after jhumka row

The global fashion cycle has always thrived on cross-cultural exchange, but the internet has made one thing clear: audiences are paying closer attention to where ideas come from, and credit needs to be given where it's due. The latest flashpoint is Ralph Lauren’s “Print Cotton Wrap Skirt”, which many online have identified as unmistakably bandhani, the centuries-old Indian tie-dye craft rooted in Gujarat and Rajasthan. The backlash is not just about resemblance, but about neglecting the garment's roots. Netizens ask, "Where is the credit?"

This comes on the heels of earlier chatter around the luxury brand’s use of jhumka-style jewellery at Paris Fashion Week, and people have now realised there is a pattern. What people once called “global inspiration” is now being examined more closely. Today, who gets credit and who benefits matters just as much as the design and the label. And consumers now expect both to go hand in hand.

Inspiration or erasure?

Bandhani is not just a print; it is a labour-intensive tie-dye technique with a history dating back hundreds of years. When a craft like this is turned into a luxury product without any mention of where it comes from, it starts to feel like cultural appropriation, where a culture’s elements are used without proper context or credit.

The current outrage around Ralph Lauren’s skirt mirrors a recurring complaint: Indian textiles and designs are often reduced to aesthetic motifs, stripped of their cultural lineage. It has been noted time and again that global fashion repackages Indian crafts into “mass-friendly products” while leaving their origins unnamed.

Not one brand, but a pattern

However, it would be wrong to only call out Ralph Lauren while we are at it. Prada, in the past, has faced intense criticism for showcasing footwear that closely resembled Kolhapuri chappals, a traditional Maharashtrian craft with GI status, without initially crediting India. The backlash was so severe that the brand later acknowledged the inspiration publicly.

Similarly, Givenchy has previously been accused of appropriating traditional designs when it showcased a draped skirt that resembled a saree but was not cited.

And the list goes on. Zara was called out for a skirt resembling a lungi, while Gucci faced backlash for misusing culturally significant symbols like the turban on the ramp without due credit.

What ties these incidents together is not just design similarity, but the lack of credit, which is the bare minimum that global fashion houses can do. The craft travels, but the credit does not.

The internet is taking notes

In the past, these conversations stayed within the fashion industry, but now, thanks to social media, they are brought into the spotlight. People are quick to spot and call out references, often as soon as a product is released. What was once a quiet discussion is now a very public one.

In some cases, this scrutiny has led to actual change. Prada’s eventual acknowledgement of Kolhapuri inspiration, and even discussions around artisan collaboration, show that backlash can push brands towards more responsible practices.

The way forward

Fashion has always borrowed from different cultures, and Indian design itself has evolved through many influences over time. So, taking inspiration isn't the problem here, but not giving credit where it is due is. The expectation is simple: acknowledge the source, work with local artisans, and ensure they benefit too. 

Because in 2026, the audience is no longer passive. A bandhani print is not just any other print, and a jhumka is not just a piece of jewellery. They carry histories and hard-earned identities. And if this latest Ralph Lauren moment is anything to go by, the world is definitely watching closely to see whether fashion finally catches up.

Lead image: Ralph Lauren

Also read: Ralph Lauren’s "vintage" earrings are Indian jhumkas, and remain uncredited

Also read: Jewellery-first styling is the biggest shift in fashion right now