Ralph Lauren faces backlash for using Zardozi embroidery without crediting Indian craftsmanship
US fashion brand Ralph Lauren drew criticism after posting images of a deep pink evening gown featuring Indian Zardozi embroidery on September 12, 2026, without crediting the traditional craft. The brand captioned the images as "hand-applied embellishments" rather than identifying the specific embroidery form. Indian social media users and fashion designers called out the omission.
Zardozi, though of Persian origin, became a flourishing handicraft tradition in India from the 14th century onward. The craft is now registered in Lucknow and six surrounding districts since 2013, with over 1,75,000 artisans working in these clusters across cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, and Hyderabad.
Fashion designer Prakhar Rao Singh Chandel criticized Ralph Lauren for describing Zardozi as mere "embellishments" rather than acknowledging it as a distinct, established Indian craft form. The incident follows a pattern of Western fashion brands appropriating Indian cultural and craft traditions without proper attribution.
