When Indian Traditions Become Global Trends: The Fine Line Between Appreciation and Appropriation

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For generations, Indians were encouraged to view their own traditions as outdated, yet today those same aesthetics are repackaged as modern trends. Perhaps this is what colonialism looks like now - not through territory, but through trends. Traditions should not merely be admired for their aesthetics, but honoured for the cultures they represent.

Photo Credit: Chat GPT

India once shaped global fashion and trade through indigo, spices, and handcrafted textiles. Yet many of these traditions were later exploited under colonial systems - indigo became "blue gold," spices fueled imperial monopolies, and Indian textiles were copied and industrialised for profit.

The "Clean Girl" Bun & Champi Culture

Photo Credit: Homegrown

Hair oiling, for generations, has been a part of Indian hair care and Ayurvedic traditions.

The sleek, oiled bun celebrated today as the "clean girl" aesthetic has existed in Indian households and royal traditions for centuries. Yet for years, oiling one's hair was mocked as "greasy", "old-fashioned", or "unmodern". And today the same practice returns, rebranded as "hair slugging," luxury scalp therapy, and wellness culture - often sold at extraordinary prices despite being practised in Indian homes for generations.

The Scandinavian Scarf aka The Dupatta

Reframed today as a "Scandinavian Scarf" or minimalist streetwear layering, the dupatta carries a history far deeper. Worn across South Asia for centuries, with roots tracing back to ancient India and early draped garments of the Indus Valley civilisation, the dupatta has long been a part of everyday life and cultural identity.

Beyond styling, the dupatta carries layered meanings of modesty, femininity, elegance, respect, tradition, and sometimes even resistance.

Kolhapuri Chappals

Photo Credit: Prada SS26 runway

Handcrafted in Maharashtra for centuries and sustained by generations of artisans, Kolhapuri chappals recently appeared on a luxury brand runway presented simply as "leather flats", with little acknowledgement of their Indian origins until public backlash pushed brands to recognise the inspiration behind them. The conversation becomes larger than fashion. Made through intricate tanning, braiding, cutting, and hand-stitching techniques passed through generations, Kolhapuri represent not only craftsmanship, but regional identity, labour and legacy. The issue was never that global fashion inspiration itself, but that centuries of artisan history were initially erased from the conversation.

Bindis & "Face Gems"

Rooted in the symbolism of the third eye and the Ajna chakra - associated in Hindu traditions with wisdom, intuition, and spiritual awareness

The bindi has carried deep cultural and spiritual meaning in South Asia for centuries. Traditionally, bindis have also carried social and marital significance.

Yet in global trend and festival culture, the bindi is often reduced to a decorative "face gem", detached from its history and meaning. The issue is not admiration, but selective acceptance - where the bindi is embraced as an aesthetic accessory while its cultural and spiritual significance is overlooked. For years, many young Indian girls were made to feel embarrassed or "too ethnic" for wearing bindis in everyday life, only to later watch the same symbol become fashionable when removed from the people and culture it originally belongs to.

Indian Ornamentation & Maximalism

Photo Credit: Pinterest: @Blueline, @MELO studio, Parfois

Indian jewellery has never followed the idea of quiet minimalism. It embraced layering, texture, silver, gold, gemstones, and handcrafted details. What is now marketed as "boho", "eclectic", or "vintage" has long been a part of Indian adornment traditions. Jhumkas, stacked bangles, layered rings, maang tikkas, oxidised silver jewellery, payal and ghungroos were never merely accessories - they reflected occasions, spirituality, craftsmanship, femininity and regional identity.

Jhumkas trace back centuries through temple jewellery traditions, Mughal influence, and royal adornment. Maang tikkas formed part of bridal and ceremonial dressing, while bangles and kadas symbolised prosperity, marriage, protection, and tradition in many Indian communities.

Ghungroos are sometimes reduced on global runways to generic "anklets with bells" - stripped of name, origin, and cultural meaning, carrying significance far beyond fashion. Deeply tied to classical dance forms like Kathak and Bharatanatyam, ghungroos transform movement into rhythm and storytelling. They are not simply decorative objects, but symbols of discipline, devotion, artistry, and cultural tradition.

The Plastic Thaila Reimagined

The stripped plastic market bag - familiar across Indian markets, railway stations, and households for its affordability, durability and practicality - was never designed as luxury. It was a daily object, chosen always for utility rather than aesthetics.

Yet today, similar bags have appeared on luxury runways and designer collections rebranded as "bazaar shoppers" or statement accessories. Global brands profit from aesthetics rooted in everyday cultural life while the original communities, artisans, and contexts behind them often remain invisible. Objects that once belonged to ordinary daily existence are extracted, elevated, and commercialised without equal acknowledgement of the cultures that shape them.

​Bottomline

Giving credit may not change much for the consumers, but it can mean recognition for artisans whose skills and livelihoods depend on preserving these traditions. Traditions are more than trends; they are beautiful yet meaningful. ​

So yes, wear your Ibiza tops, enjoy your golden milk and chai lattes, follow Ayurvedic wellness routines, and herbal skincare rituals. Cultural exchange and inspiration are not the problem. What matters is remembering where these practices, aesthetics, and traditions come from and acknowledging the communities, histories, and artisans that continue to preserve them.