'Name it when you use it, not when you get caught': Internet slams Ralph Lauren for using zardozi without credits

Criticism mounts against Ralph Lauren for cultural appropriation, as in the designer's latest showcase, they featured zardozi without crediting India.

Ralph Lauren unveiled their Spring 2027 collection at the New York Fashion Week this week. Among the many looks displayed on the runway, one was an evening-wear deep pink embroidered gown, and it is now being criticised for failing to give due credit to Indian craftsmanship.

Ralph Lauren criticised for not crediting Indian craft

On September 12, the official Instagram handle of Ralph Lauren posted the pictures of the outfit along with a close-up shot of the embroidery with the caption, “Draped with shimmering silk-viscose and scattered with hand-applied embellishments, an eveningwear gown from #RalphLaurenSpring2027 makes a cinematic statement.”

Prakhar Rao Singh Chandel, a fashion designer, highlighted in an Instagram post that zardozi has been registered in Lucknow and six surrounding districts since 2013, and one lakh seventy-five thousand artisans work in that cluster. He also pointed out how the Instagram post shared by Ralph Lauren eloquently describes the cloth, but the handwork gets only one word — embellishments.

‘Name it when you use it. Not when you get caught.’

He further points out that the last slide of the same post quotes Ralph Lauren himself, saying he wanted each piece to feel as though it carries its own history and character. “Whose history? Whose character?” Prakhar questioned.

Calling out international brands for repeatedly stealing Indian craft and never giving due credit, only to later apologise when caught, he added, “We already know how this goes, because we watched it last year. Prada showed Kolhapuri-style sandals in Milan in June 2025, and the show notes called them leather sandals. India was named two days after the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce wrote to their board. That is the tactic. Say nothing, take the applause, produce the credit only once somebody forces you to. Name it when you use it. Not when you get caught.”

This also led to Instagram users also calling out the designer and commenting, “Start acknowledging Indian art,” “Indian embroidery inspired by Indian crafts,” “Indian art and it's done by Indian artisan,” and “Lol literally embellishments from India. Stop stealing craft.”

Someone wrote, “Racism towards Indians while actively stealing every part of their lifestyle, culture, and the very core of their identity is a level of audacity that needs to be studied.” Another commented, “Honestly- this year somehow the cultural appropriation is off the charts.”

The repeated cultural appropriation

This is not the first time Ralph Lauren has been involved in controversy over the theft of Indian craftsmanship. In August 2026, Ralph Lauren faced intense online backlash after listing a pre-draped saree on its e-commerce platform as the "Botanical Embellished Draped Overlay Maxi Dress" priced at €198. Hindustan Times (HT City) and South Asian fashion watchdogs heavily covered the wave of criticism accusing the brand of cultural erasure.

Similarly, in March 2026, Ralph Lauren models were seen wearing bell-shaped, domed earrings resembling Indian jhumkas, which the brand labelled as “authentic vintage accessories.”

In June 2025, Prada debuted flat, T-strap leather sandals that were identical to Maharashtra’s Kolhapuri chappals during one of their showcases, sparking online backlash. The luxury brand later acknowledged the footwear’s roots in western India.