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India at Paris Olympics 2024: Celebrated fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani’s ikat-inspired uniforms for the India contingent at the 2024 Paris Olympics was disastrous. read more
 "Shame on Tarun Tahiliani for India contingent's ikat-inspired uniforms!")
Paris Olympics 2024: Tarun Tahiliani rightly slammed for his uniforms for the India contingent
Looks like fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani totally failed to understand the gravity of the event. Not just failing to impress, Tarun Tahiliani’s ikat-inspired uniforms for the India contingent at the 2024 Paris Olympics made many think that probably he didn’t give a good thought behind designing the uniforms. Lacking creativity and imagination, it was a shoddy job done by one of India’s most celebrated designer.
Ace badminton player Jwala Gutta rightly pointed out on social media that “not all girls know how to drape a saree.” Keeping in mind that all these women representing India at the Olympics are sports women, Gutta rightly pointed out, “Why didn’t the designer use this common sense and make pre-draped sarees (which is in current trend). The girls looked uncomfortable, the blouse was a bad fit.”
Gutta further added, “And second the colour and the print was so opposite of beautiful Indian!!! There was an opportunity for the designer to display the art of our culture through embroidery or hand paint!! It was a work of absolute mediocrity and looked shabby. I really hope the sports family stops compromising on quality for our sportspersons’ looks on court and off court!”
Tahiliani didn’t do justice to the ikat weave
Ikat is one of the finest weaves of India and there are so many designers who are known for making garments and sarees out of this beautiful weave. And most importantly, ikat is definitely not designer Tarun Tahiliani forte. In fact, there are many designers who have worked hard to make the ikat weave global. The beauty of the ikat weave was definitely not flattering in the sarees designed by Tahiliani. The kaleidoscopic colours and intricate patterns of Indian weaves have enormous appeal, but if this collection was actually done by Tahiliani or any of his juniors working for him, it was a total shame!
There have been designers who have always championed Indian weaves. Ritu Kumar is a notable example. She has incorporated block printing in her designs for years. And remember the Offbeat Sari mounted at the Design Museum, London (May-September 2023) by Abraham & Thakore? The show featured an A&T leaf ikat sari in black with a gold border, the only ikkat motif being an enormous tangy, lime green leaf pattern on the pallu. And I must say it was a real piece of art.
Understanding the ikat fabric
Ikat is a dyeing technique used to create a distinct patterns. It is the binding of yarns and the process is repeated several times to give the multicoloured pattern. The ikat fabric is not dyed, but the yarn is resist-dyed before the weaving.
Ikat too is one such beautiful textile. India has long been one of the oldest and largest producers of this fabric. The word ikat literally means ‘to bind’ in Indonesian. Ikat weave is not only used in saris, but in fusion and western outfits too.
Tarun Tahiliani did a lazy job
What Tahiliani could have done, if he wanted to keep the colour of the sari white and since ikat has such vibrant coloured weaves and not just going by the regular predictable blouse, he could have used a cape or shrug or a short blazer to add a little quirk to the drab saree. But one thing is for sure, ikat was not given enough justice by India’s celebrated fashion designer, Tarun Tahiliani at the Paris Olympics 2024. Again, the saree made by Tahiliani is definitely not an ikat weave, its just a cheap print. And that is again an absolute shame.
Tahiliani should have given a little bit of thought for the prestigious 2024 Paris Olympics uniform for the India contingent. Rightly so, columnist and author Dr Nandita Iyer wrote on on X “Hello Tarun Tahiliani! I have seen better Sarees sold in Mumbai streets for Rs.200 than these ceremonial uniforms you’ve ‘designed’.” She called it a combination of digital prints, cheap polyester fabric and the tricolour thrown together without any imagination. And, let me add you get beautiful ikat saris in the local stores of Kolkata.
Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.
Lachmi Deb Roy is the entertainment editor of Firtspost, Network18. She reviews films and series with a gender lens. Her interviews are called 'Not Just Bollywood' because she takes huge interest in world cinema. OTT over theatrical releases is her preference unless and until its a King Khan film. She takes interest in fashion, food and art reviews too. see more
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