If we were to think about some of the top designers who are responsible for promoting Indian fashion globally and putting Indian textiles and designs on the map, designer Tarun Tahiliani would definitely be in the top five. The man has proved time and again that he has an exquisite taste when it comes to fashion, mixing traditional with modern elements. His most recent work, which has gained immense applause, was the outfits he designed for multiple celebrities who attended Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding, including Kim Kardashian.
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If you haven’t yet seen what Tarun Tahiliani’s craftsmanship looks like, here’s a peek:
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The details are marvellous.
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There’s a reason why celebrities reach out to him before significant social events.
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He is very well able to create a moment.
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Hence, when the Olympic ceremonial uniforms for the Indian athletes were unveiled, everyone sat back and sighed in disappointment.
For the male athletes, Tarun Tahiliani had designed a white kurta and a Bundi jacket adorned with orange and green naksi work, celebrating the tricolour. The jackets featured pockets with ‘India’ inscriptions and the Olympic logo.
On the other hand, for the female athletes he had designed Ikat-inspired sarees in the tri-colours of white, orange, and green, complemented by orange and green borders and blouses.
The men’s kurta set was made from lightweight moss cotton, while the women’s sari was viscose crepe.
The uniforms are being called “boring”, an “afterthought”, a “disappointing affair”, “tacky” and fit for “a school Independence Day programme”. This was a great opportunity to showcase and promote Indian textiles and designs on a global platform and Tarun Tahiliani clearly didn’t live up to people’s expectations.
Several people took to social media to criticize the designer for treating Indian athletes like an afterthought and putting all his efforts into dressing Bollywood celebrities instead. They have been urging the government to hand over opportunities like this to local craftsmen, who are far more capable of delivering a better job, instead of luxury designers.
Have a look:
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
With due respects to the designer whom I admire – this is sheer irreverence to Indian textile traditions & a great opportunity lost #OlympicGames #Olympics #IndiaAtOlympics https://t.co/xRAe95lGOP
— Rajeshwari Kalyanam (@Raj_Kalyanam) July 27, 2024
Never handover these brats of fashion such Campaigns,
give it to much deserving and hungry for passion grassroot kareegars. https://t.co/SIoSaJLfmX— Arvind Bhanumurthy (@drabhanu28) July 27, 2024
Fair criticism. The irony is that top Indian designers earn serious money from making grumpy waddling aunties & jowly paunchy uncles look amazing at big fat Indian weddings.
And here they squandered a chance to make actually gorgeous desis look even more amazing. https://t.co/ziftoAaPxt— Hari Menon (@runbikehurry) July 27, 2024
Totally agree with you on it. This could have been designed so better. India as country is so culturally rich and the saree doesn’t compliment it. Our athletes are going to present India on international level and this is what an Indian designer designed for them https://t.co/fWMTOT00bg
— Riya (@bhalla_papdi) July 27, 2024
Definitely a disappointment considering out of so many things to represent India’s diversity,culture and rich textile industry he chose to come up with prints and polyester😑. https://t.co/jCFPptMER9
— Anvesha Gupta (@rsAnvesha) July 27, 2024
The quality of these sarees look so bad. A county known for its rich textiles and embroidery , and they came up with this to represent us in front of the world. Smh https://t.co/4ssti5Bbt1
— Yoon.Yu🌸💕 (@YukkriYoong) July 27, 2024
This is the best that Tarun Tahiliani could come up with? We are so used to our athletes looking so smart, normally. This feels like he phoned in the design…. pic.twitter.com/7BmjvB0ErZ
— Ajay Kamath (@ajay43) July 27, 2024
Well done Tarun Tahiliani. This ceremonial dress captures India’s poverty and ugliness quite well. pic.twitter.com/uco7IoDHaq
— Balaji (@balajiworld) July 27, 2024
At world’s fashion capital, an Indian athlete looked like this – dull and ordinary. Tarun Tahiliani’s mix of plastic-sheet-like saree, printed ikat and unimaginative use of tricolour, shut window to splendrous world of Indian textiles. 🤦♀️ #ceremoniedouverture pic.twitter.com/VxPuHMoO74
— N.S. Madhavan (@NSMlive) July 27, 2024
I don’t know what Tarun Tahiliani was thinking while scribbling these pathetic uniforms, did our champions really bad.
The women’s saree look like “before” shot in an Ujala Ad. While menswear, it’s just looks a bit ..ringard if I may say in spirit of Paris! pic.twitter.com/WCuUFNCYAl— Bhaumik Gowande (@bhaumikgowande) July 26, 2024
Just compare the dress and Design.
India at Olympics & Mangolia at Olympics.
Tarun Tahiliani who designed this absolute crap, must apologise to the nation. pic.twitter.com/GbUjVsPi7Y— Laibah Firdaus. لائبہ فردوس (@FirdausLaibah) July 27, 2024
You’ve been looted @WeAreTeamIndia !! Even a newbie at NIFT would have done a better job than Tarun Tahiliani with such boring and dull looking dresses for our contingent ..!! @mansukhmandviya pic.twitter.com/gaku7CFTND
— Yo Yo Funny Singh (@moronhumor) July 26, 2024
This is such a waste of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.