Ralph Lauren’s Rs 44,800 Bandhini-inspired print cotton skirt is breaking the internet. Here’s why | Fashion News
3 min readNew DelhiApr 20, 2026 03:00 PM IST Luxury fashion has often walked a fine line between inspiration and appropriation. Over the past few years, brands like Prada and Ralph Lauren have faced criticism for incorporating Indian design elements, such as Kolhapuri-style footwear and traditional Indian jhumkas, without acknowledging their origins. The latest controversy involves Ralph Lauren’s Bandhini-print cotton skirt. On Ralph Lauren’s official website, the product in question is listed as a “Print Cotton Wrap Skirt” under the Polo line. It is priced at Rs 44,800 and comes in a “Tie Dye Multi” colour-way. The product description highlights the visual appeal of the skirt, noting that it is “beautifully draped” and features a “vibrant design inspired by traditional Bandhini tie-dye techniques and motifs.” While the description references “Bandhini tie-dye techniques,” it stops short of explicitly mentioning India, the craft’s origin, or the artisan communities associated with it. This subtle omission has become the crux of the issue, with netizens questioning whether vague acknowledgement of inspiration is enough, especially when the design language is …
