Indian designer Tarun Tahiliani custom made the uniform for the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics, However, the dresses have received a major backlash and the designer later also responded to it.
The Paris Olympics 2024 is in full swing and India has already won two bronze medals to its name. While the athletes are putting their best foot forward to ace every round in their respective events, there has been a major uproar over the uniform designed for the Indian contingent by India’s one of the ace designers Tarun Tahiliani.
India’s uniform has the women draped in elegance with tricolor printed border while men wear a traditional bundi set. The digital prints were designed to make a striking impression at the Paris Olympics. The entire contingent was seen sailing afloat the River Seine in Paris ahead of the official beginning of the sports. However, the excitement in the air was soiled by the lukewarm or rather major backlash in India itself.
This is for the first time that a fashion designer was tasked to create a uniform for th contingent representing India at Olympics. The official ceremonial attire of Team India was designed by Tarun Tahiliani in collaboration Tasva, Aditya Birla Group.
Ever since the Indian athletes appeared in the uniform, there has been a wave of criticism over the social media.From the choice of material to the design, apparently the dress did not sit well in the eyes of the netizens.
Why Tarun Tahiliani’s Design For Indian Contingent is Receiving Backlash?
Designs, choice of material, nothing seemed to be setting in the eyes of netizens. Famous blogger and columnist Nandita Iyer expressed her disappointment on X (formerly Twitter), “Hello Tarun Tahiliani! I have seen better sarees sold on Mumbai streets for Rs 200 than these ceremonial uniforms you’ve ‘designed’.”
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
Several other netizens echoed similar opinions. Amongst voice of diasspoint was also Jwala Gutta who remarked the uniform as “huge disappointment.”
After not much of thinking..
The garments which was made for the Indian contingent participating in Olympics this time has been a huge disappointment!! (Especially when the designer was announced I had huge expectations)
First not all girls know how to wear a saree…why didn’t… pic.twitter.com/b5UjzpvUJQ— Gutta Jwala (@Guttajwala) July 28, 2024
Another social media user commented on the thread, “I totally agree with you on this. No creative imagination at all and they are supposed to be established & well reputed designers.” (sic)
We continue to embarrass ourselves while it’s 2024. Look how horrible our champions were dressed for the Olympics. Compare it to other teams, even smaller nations did well while maintaining cultural angle. @Tarun_Tahiliani . What a disgrace pic.twitter.com/Nu4Gt6A0S7
— Hims (@maveinlux) July 27, 2024
AI Recreates Uniform
In this digitally driven world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making the mark in every field. amid the controversy associated with the Indian ceremonial uniform and Tarun Tahiliani, netizens resorted to AI and asked it to produce alternate designs for the same,
Tarun Tahiliani Responds to Criticism
Defending his design Tarun Tahiliani said that he stands by his work amidst the uproar in social media. Explaining his design process in an interview with GQ India, Tahiliani said, “My research revealed a trend where countries were integrating their national flags into their Olympic uniforms. Inspired by this, I crafted a design that prominently features the tricolour hues of saffron, white, and green, reflecting India’s national colours.
He also added that the final design underwent several changes and were also vetted by the respective committees.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Tahiliani said, “I stand by my design, it was appreciated a lot in Paris. Let people say what they want. Perhaps it is time to focus on what really matters and that’s sport. In the end our athletes looked good, supported the tricolour and were cohesive and cool. It’s not a wedding. It’s sport.”
Tahiliani further said that every designer had to follow a set of guidelines put out by the Indian Olympic Committee (IOC). “Many things got changed at the last minute. I accept people can have their views. I am good with that but I stand by what we did. We wanted the team in the colours of the tricolour as most countries follow their flag and that’s all that was visible from afar. Hence the design. I would do it again with a little more colour as we saw the athletes from far away,” he added.
Fashion is a creative field where something may be an eye candy while an eye sore for another.