NRI Desi Fashion Truly Needs An Update

I had always considered NRI’s ethnic fashion sense outdated and now an Instagram influencer and critic, Diet Sabya has given voice to this observation. It all started when Houston based blogger Vidhya’s Reel shared some desi options for Bridgerton characters and anonymous fashion blogger Diet Sabya shared this and wrote “Sorry but what are these terrible Indian outfits?” this comment opened up a debate. The blogger questioned NRIs’ dressing sense when it comes to modern Indian ethnic wear.

I do have friends and relatives who have lived abroad for two decades almost, oh they are super smart, super-achievers, and superbly dressed in western wear but sorry to say their desi style has taken a beating. Now, that they do not come to India that often they don’t get to know what’s trending in India. Remember Carrie Bradshaw’s lehenga in Sex and The City’s reboot, And Just Like That to Padma and Parvati Patil in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire to Mindy Kaling wearing a saree to her son’s school to showcase her Indian heritage. They were all dressed in clothes that Indians in India wore maybe a decade back. That’s how outdated they are.

The clothes they take back become outdated

Most NRIs buy Indian ethnic wear on their trip to India which is once in every 2-3 to 4 years. So, in between these years they are stuck with what they have in their wardrobe, which to us is outdated. Imagine the contrast, we see a trend and think will suit us we buy it online the same day or go to the store and buy it immediately.

NRI Desi Fashion: Ethnic wear is special wear

For the Indian diaspora wearing ethnic clothes is only restricted to special occasions like festivals, Indian weddings and generally when mingling within the Indian circles. As a regular wear they prefer western outfits, because they are easy to maintain, are less loud and can gel in with others in school or office etc. So, they do not give that much importance to Indian trends and wear what’s available in their wardrobe. I have also heard from my NRI friends that over the years the old Indian clothes keep gathering dust as no charity accepts them, so, again this causes disinterest in them for new clothes.

NRIs need to source their Indian clothes from India

If NRIs are keen to be dressed in updated Indian wear they need to find that one fashion designer or icon whom they want to follow and suits their style. Instead of buying outdated clothes with exorbitant price tags from suppliers in their countries they should look to India for inspiration. There is an obvious lack of knowledge and understanding of how far Indian ethnic wear has progressed in the past decade or so. And Hollywood stars wearing outdated Indian wear doesn’t help at all.

What happens is that these suppliers depend on their suppliers in India who buy in bulk from places like Chandini Chowk and Shahpur Jat which mostly have copied, gaudy and tacky stuff. If you are paying for it then go for the real stuff. If you want to have one or two show stoppers then go for designer stuff. Also, now NRIs need not look further, there is Priyanka Chopra Jonas as a style icon, she is a trendsetter.

Suggested Reading: 6 Super Desi Things NRI Kids Wished Parents Would Stop Saying

Second generation depend on the first generation

These days the second generation Indian origin millennial kids depend on their first generation parents for Indian ethnic wear. Whereas in India we know that the new kids on the block have their own take on ethnic fashion, they will tweak, they will gel western sensibility to Indian wear, have an interesting blouse or a colour that becomes so ‘in’. While the Indian origin kids will be dressed in their parent’s outfits or clothes of their parent’s choice which takes them decades back.

On their part many NRIs, ABCDs and BBCDs (American and British born confused desis) have accepted the lack of designer products in their countries. So, yeah Indian designers you do have a ready market to open shop. And millennials up your desi fashion game please, you’ll are representing us abroad.