Paris Olympics 2024: Netizens Slam Tarun Tahiliani For Indian Contingent's Outfit, Say 'Cheap Polyester Fabric, A Disgrace...'

The women's outfit was a saree in tri-colours showcasing the famous Ikat print, while the men donned similar coloured kurta-pyjamas paired with a Bundi-jacket. 

Netizens Slam Tarun Tahiliani For Indian Contingent's Outfit

Source : X/PV Sindhu

The Indian contingent, comprising 78 athletes and officials, made its entrance during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 on Friday, with PV Sindhu and Sharath Kamal serving as the flag bearers. The outfits were designed by celebrity fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani. But, his ikat-inspired uniforms have failed to impress, garnering significant criticism on social media. The women's outfit was a saree in tri-colours showcasing the famous Ikat print, while the men donned similar coloured kurta-pyjamas paired with a Bundi-jacket. 

TAKE A LOOK AT THE OUTFIT:

Taking to X, PV Sindhu shared pictures of her outfit as she was the proud flag-bearer for the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics. She wrote, "Paris 2024, flag bearer—one of the greatest honours of my life to hold our country's flag in front of millions"

Paris 2024, flag bearer—one of the greatest honors of my life to hold our country's flag in front of millions ❤️ pic.twitter.com/4VPc9FFuIz

— Pvsindhu (@Pvsindhu1) July 26, 2024

NETIZENS CRITICISE THE OUTFIT:

Netizens were not too pleased with the Tarun Tahiliani designs and took to social media to criticise the 'Ikat' pieces designed by him for the Paris Olympics.  One of them called the sarees sold in Mumbai streets "better" than that designed by the famous designer.

Taking to Twitter, she said, "Hello Tarun Tahiliani! 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 (!!!), tricolours 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? Such a disgrace to the rich weaving culture and history of India."

Hello Tarun Tahiliani!
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

— Dr Nandita Iyer (@saffrontrail) July 27, 2024

Some people also slammed the fact that "printed ikat" was used instead of hand-woven or hand-painted pieces at a platform where one could showcase the rich heritage of Indian textiles.

Vijayalaxmi Chhabra took to her Instagram handle and wrote, "The base fabric used for Team India’s ceremonial attire is Viscose and to create the tricolour effect, stripes of “Printed Ikat” fabric have been used."

"Does our Ministry of Textile/ Handloom realise the amount of damage it has done to our living textile traditions by approving the fabric used in this official ceremonial attire of Team India? Why has the ministry acted in contradiction to their own project #Anantsutra which was so proudly launched on 26 January? Has that project Anantsutra been forgotten in no time? Someone in the same ministry must have approved this project by Tarun Tahiliani & Birla group’s Tasva. Crores must have been doled out from taxpayers' money to a private enterprise to create this much-advertised project of ceremonial attire using Viscose and fake Ikat," she added.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Vijayalaxmi Chhabra (@vijayalaxmichhabra)

Actor Tara Deshpande also took to X and wrote, "They look absolutely awful. We have the greatest textile tradition in India. Who passed this design? Who budgeted for this?"

They look absolutely awful. We have the greatest textile tradition in India. Who passed this design? Who budgeted for this? https://t.co/UcZ0CCuCGh

— Tara Deshpande (@Tara_Deshpande) July 27, 2024

COMPARISON WITH THE OTHER OUTFITS TARUN TAHILIANI DESIGNED:

Social media users were quick to compare the outfits designed by Tarun Tahiliani for the Olympics with the ones he designs for celebrities and celebrity weddings.

One of them wrote, "The guy who made bridal costumes for Radhika Merchant, Gauri Khan, etc, he made these. You can imagine how the rich class view our citizens. No wonder India doesn’t win anything at the Olympics except for a few medals, while China is just another level, with the same poverty, population and whatnot. At least they know their priorities, despite having many problems of their own. Utterly shameful. If people were truly aware, they would boycott buying stuff from companies like Reliance."

While another one said, "It’s giving…. We spent all our creative juice at the Ambani wedding and have nothing for team 🇮🇳"

ABOUT IKAT PRINT:

Ikat is a dyeing method originating from Indonesia, utilised to create patterns on textiles by employing resist dyeing on yarns before dyeing and weaving the fabric. The term is also used to denote similar traditions in various other cultures. In Southeast Asia, ikat weaving traditions can be categorised into two main groups. The first group is observed among Daic-speaking communities, while the second, larger group is among the Austronesian people. Comparable dyeing and weaving techniques, evolving independently, are also found in other parts of the world, including India, Central Asia, Japan, Africa, and the Americas.

Motifs in Ikat textiles vary from region to region. Ikat is practised across India, particularly in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. Initially, natural dyes were used for ikat patterns. Double ikat in India is known as Patola in Gujarat, Telia Rumal in Andhra Pradesh, Geringsing in Bali, Indonesia, and Kasuri in Japan, and is renowned as one of the most prestigious and expensive textiles in the world.