As India preps to impress at the Olympics 2024, the national contingent's uniforms for the Paris Games 2024 have sparked debates on social media. Many people are criticising designer Tarun Tahiliani for creating designs that are a complete 'disgrace'.
Author Dr Nandita Iyer slammed Tahiliani as she claimed that better sarees are sold for Rs 200 on the streets of Mumbai, compared to what he designed for the Indian contingent.
Hello Tarun Tahiliani!
— Dr Nandita Iyer (@saffrontrail) July 27, 2024
I have seen better Sarees sold in Mumbai streets for Rs.200 than these ceremonial uniforms you’ve ‘designed’.
Cheap polyester like fabric, Ikat PRINT (!!!), tricolors thrown together with no imagination
Did you outsource it to an intern or come up with it… https://t.co/aVkXGmg80K
"Cheap polyester like fabric, Ikat PRINT (!!!), tricolors thrown together with no imagination...Did you outsource it to an intern or come up with it in the last 3 minutes before the deadline?" she wrote in her post, as she called the outfits a "disgrace to the rich weaving culture and history of India".
"Our athletes deserved so much better," she continued on the thread on X.
Users agreed with Dr Iyer, as one wrote: "All these top designers are busy with the weddings of the rich, forgetting that India is what it is because of true countrymen/women like @Pvsindhu. Let's not forget our real heroes!" Another called Tahiliani's designs a "gold medal disaster."
Several posts across social media echoed similar sentiments. A user, criticising the cheap material used for the outfits, asked, "Did the Louvre lend its curtains?"
India's Olympic uniform: When you order vibrant culture on Wish. Beige dreams and Muted screams. Specially in Paris… Did the Louvre lend its curtains?#taruntahiliani What a disappointment!!! #FashionCapitalFail #OlympicBeige pic.twitter.com/i5PFCOxj4x
— Sarang Dhekne (@sarangmd) July 26, 2024
Meanwhile, several social media users shared AI-generated designs for Team India.
Generated alternative Olympic Ceremony Uniform for India 😭😭😭 ✨❤️ pic.twitter.com/LHNEz7LpgH
— f e l n u n m a w i i (@mawipuiloves) July 27, 2024
It is noteworthy that designer Tahiliani's name surfaced on social media prior to the Olympics for his splendid designs for Anant and Radhika Merchant's wedding too.
He designed Kim Kardashian's dusty peach embroidered zari brocade lehenga that she wore at the one of the wedding festivities of the duo.
Another popular look at the wedding reception was Janhvi Kapoor's corset dress, another Tahiliani creation. Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, Shanaya Kapoor, Manushi Chhillar were among the other big names who were draped in Tarun Tahiliani's designs at the event.
Infact, the bride, Radhika Merchant as well as Isha Ambani wore Tahiliani's designs as well.