Latest news with #DietSabya
Mint
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Celebration of traditional craft does not need a viral moment
Isha Ambani was recently seen in a sari-inspired gown, made by Roberto Cavalli using the traditional bandhani technique from Gujarat. Her look instantly became a topic of conversation on social media, with many netizens calling it a global celebration of Indian artistry. A similar reaction followed when actor Brad Pitt flaunted a shirt by homegrown label 11.11 in his new film, F1: The Movie. The shirt was crafted using Tangaliya, a 700-year-old weaving technique from Saurashtra, Gujarat, that requires artisans to hand-twist yarns, creating delicate bead-like patterns. While 11.11 had showcased the process in a detailed video earlier this year, the craft caught the attention of media outlets and digital platforms only after the American actor wore it on the big screen. Last month, the Prada and Kolhapuri chappal controversy took over the news cycle. During men's fashion week in Milan, Prada was called out by Indian media and government authorities for presenting 'sandals" that looked unmistakably inspired by, if not a direct copy of, the popular Kolhapuri chappal from Kolhapur in Maharashtra. Designers like Tarun Tahiliani and Malini Ramani have long used these traditional leather sandals in their runway shows, but it took a global fashion house to bring public attention to them. n the above three instances, one thing was common: Indian people started celebrating and talking about their traditional crafts, even if on social media, after it was presented on an international stage. This isn't something new, though. For decades, international brands have borrowed liberally from cultures of the Global South. Cultural appropriation is a serious issue, but it also raises a deeper, more uncomfortable question: Why do a lot of us continue to wait for the West's validation when it comes to celebrating our own traditional crafts? 'We need to rehab ourselves from this habit," says the founder of Diet Sabya, an independent Instagram account that criticises and celebrates Indian fashion, who prefers to stay anonymous. It's a sentiment echoed by academics too. Phyllida Jay, a UK-based anthropologist and author of books on Indian fashion, explains: 'The adoption of an Indian craft by a big luxury brand can make people in India reappraise an unsung craft and see it in a shiny new light. I've even had Indian designers tell me that their customers in India perceive more value in their work back home if they've shown at Paris fashion week or are stocked in a cool Milanese boutique. Sadly, there's still considerable power in the idea of foreign validation and branding in India." To call this a colonial hangover, after 77 years of independence, would be too simplistic. India is no longer a passive participant in global conversations—it is a cultural, social and economic power. With that rise comes a responsibility: to protect and champion our creative legacies on our own terms. The backlash around the Kolhapuri incident reflects this shift. The uproar prompted Prada to meet with the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, which represents 3,000 Kolhapuri sandal artisans, to explore possible collaborations. The issue, however, is far from resolved. 'The 2026 menswear show using direct, literal copies of Kolhapuris was a communications disaster. It was a massive, baffling oversight. Prada is now doing everything it can to counter the reputational damage. How they follow up with real engagement, true collaboration, and transparent communication in relation to the collections that result from their dialogue with Kolhapuri artisans will be key," says Jay. And India needs to keep a close eye and follow up on the matter, as it could become an important example of how international brands should ideally interact with Indian crafts. But, at the same time, it's also our responsibility to constantly value our vast textile and craft traditions and talk about them loudly, whether online or offline, without waiting for reason, a controversy or a trend. As the Diet Sabya founder puts it: 'Let's not act like Prada did something groundbreaking. Influencers will latch on to anything buzzy. If not Prada, then Saint Laurent. If not Kolhapuris, then Nehru jackets. It's not homage—it's content. Their interest is seasonal, algorithm-fed, and frankly, as fickle as fashion." In the book Inspired By India, Jay documents how Indian craft and design traditions have shaped European fashion for centuries. In the late 18th century, for instance, the Scottish town of Paisley became so successful at reproducing Kashmiri shawls at a lower cost that the buta motif from Kashmir is now globally famous as 'paisley". And it's not just in fashion. If people want to change how India's contribution to global culture is valued and treated, they first need to celebrate and appreciate traditional knowledge, and not wait for someone else to do it. 'Indian designers have always been about craft. Craft isn't just a moment—it's the backbone of our fashion," says the Diet Sabya founder. 'But it's not just the designers' responsibility. It's everyone's." Dress Sense is a monthly column on the clothes we wear every day. Sujata Assomull is a journalist, author and mindful fashion advocate.
NDTV
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Sophie Choudry Slams Bollywood Celebrities, "Please Do Not Let Wimbledon Become The Next Cannes"
New Delhi: Over the last few days, the internet has been abuzz with pictures and videos of celebrities attending Wimbledon 2025. Sophie Choudry, however, has slammed the trend. On Thursday, July 15, the singer, actress shared an elaborate note on her Instagram Stories, criticising the growing obsession with turning Wimbledon into a fashion runway rather than appreciating the sport itself. Sophie Choudry wrote, "Oh Lord. Please do not let Wimbledon become the next Cannes." Speaking about her love for tennis, the 43-year-old said, "I have been an avid tennis lover for more than 30 years. Have literally shed tears of joy and pain over my favourites – Sampras (a legit obsession at one time), Agassi, Nadal and now Alcaraz. Have scheduled watching matches between revising for school exams. Was fortunate enough to see the legend Martina Navratilova play in her last Wimbledon final, amongst other epic matches – before it was all about an Insta post." She added, "But this year I am suddenly seeing countless 'influencers', 'celebs' from India going there just to be seen. I am not denying that some genuinely love the game, but many are there just to pose for social media. They have zero clue or interest in the game or those playing it." On a concluding note Sophie Choudry shared, "It is just Ughhh. Please let us not ruin one of the most beautiful tournaments in the world." Contrary to Sophie Choudry's opinion, Sonam Kapoor had a positive stance on celebs about the 'desification' at Wimbledon. On an Instagram post uploaded by anonymous fashion critic handle Diet Sabya, the actress commented, "Love the captions! Indians everywhere. So good na?" View this post on Instagram A post shared by DietSabya® (@dietsabya) Some of the prominent personalities who attended Wimbledon this year were Anushka Sharma-Virat Kohli, Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas, Parineeti Chopra-Raghav Chadha, Farhan Akhtar-Shibani Dandekar, Janhvi Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Preity Zinta, and Urvashi Rautela. The Wimbledon finals saw Jannik Sinner beating Carlos Alcaraz in a hard-hitting clash. Wimbledon celebrated the win by paying a tribute to Indian cinema, honouring Thalapathy Vijay and his upcoming film Jana Nayagan.
News18
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Sonam Kapoor Reacts To Viral Post About ‘Desification' Of Wimbledon: ‘Indians Everywhere'
Published By : IANS Diet Sabya posted about 'desification' of Wimbledon 2025, noting the presence of several Indian celebrities including Priyanka Chopra, Sonam Kapoor, Urvashi Rautela, and more. Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor, who was last seen in the streaming film 'Blind', is coming out in support of the 'desification" of Wimbledon. A recent post by an Instagram handle showed pictures of Indian celebs attending Wimbledon. The post in question spoke about how there has been an uptick in influential people flocking to Wimbledon from India. Sonam took to the comments section of the post, as she wrote, 'Love the captions! Indians everywhere! So good na?". View this post on Instagram A post shared by DietSabya® (@dietsabya) Celebs like Priyanka Chopra, Sonam Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Urvashi Rautela, Neena Gupta and her designer-actor daughter Masaba, Janhvi Kapoor, Preity Zinta, Anushka Sharma and her cricketer husband Virat Kohli turned up at the Wimbledon. On Monday, Wimbledon paid tribute to Indian cinema for the very first time during finals. Wimbledon's official social media handle dropped a surprise post that sent fans into a frenzy. The visual mirrored the Republic Day poster of the upcoming movie 'Jana Nayagan'. Sinner struck a powerful selfie pose with his trophy, echoing Vijay's own image in the film's teaser art. The post was aptly captioned 'The First Roar", inspired by the thunderous BGM composed by Anirudh Ravichander. This marks the first time Wimbledon has saluted an Indian actor and film — making 'Jana Nayagan' the first Indian cinematic reference to be immortalized by the historic sports institution. Looking at the recent trends, Wimbledon has been chasing viewership similar to more popular sports in India like cricket given India's colossal human capital, and the advertisement revenues wired to it. The recent Wimbledon finals saw Jannik Sinner emerging victorious in an electrifying clash against Carlos Alcaraz. Jannik became the first Italian Wimbledon singles champion in the Open Era. The Women's singles defending champion was Barbora Krejcikova from the Czech Republic, but she lost in the third round to Emma Navarro. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sonam Kapoor defends 'desi vibes' at Wimbledon after Diet Sabya's dig: 'Indians everywhere! So good na?'
Wimbledon 2025 witnesses a surge in Indian celebrity appearances. Diet Sabya humorously calls it the 'Desification of Wimbledon'. Sonam Kapoor responds positively to the increased Indian presence. The internet debates this desi takeover. Kapoor is set to return to the screen with 'Battle for Bittora'. The film is based on Anuja Chauhan's novel. From the tennis court to Instagram, Wimbledon 2025 has become an unexpected hotspot for Indian celebrity sightings — and not everyone is watching quietly. As Bollywood stars and influencers made stylish appearances at the prestigious event, Instagram's no-filter fashion critic Diet Sabya cheekily dubbed it the 'Desification of Wimbledon. ' But while the internet debated the sudden desi takeover, it was Sonam Kapoor 's playful response that stole the spotlight. Check out the post here: The account shared a collage featuring Sonam Kapoor, Virat Kohli, Urvashi Rautela, Jacqueline Fernandez, Priyanka Chopra , Avneet Kaur, Milind Soman, Preity Zinta, Janhvi Kapoor , and several others spotted at Wimbledon, captioning it with a sarcastic, 'What in the challengers is going on?'—a playful jab at the sudden wave of Indian celebrity appearances at the tournament. The post also sparked conversation by opening the comments section with a provocative question: 'Are we feeling the desification of Wimbledon?'—inviting followers to weigh in on the growing desi presence at the iconic tennis event. While one user wrote, 'Is Wimbledon the new Cannes for Indian celebs?', another one added, 'Wimbledon has become chandivali hai kya?' What truly grabbed attention, though, was Sonam Kapoor's cheerful response to the post. Delighted by the Indian presence at Wimbledon, the Bhaag Milkha Bhaag actor commented, 'Love the captions! Indians everywhere! So good na?' — showing she was all for the desi takeover. On the professional front, Sonam Kapoor is set to make her return to the big screen with Battle for Bittora, the film adaptation of Anuja Chauhan's 2010 bestselling novel. The story revolves around two passionate young politicians who are in love but end up competing against each other in a high-stakes election. The film is being produced by Anil Kapoor's production house in collaboration with Communication Network.
News18
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Schiaparelli's Beating Heart Necklace At Paris Couture Week Has Got The Internet Talking
Last Updated: At the Paris Couture Week, Schiaparelli showcased a beating heart necklace. This anatomical surrealism has become the talk of the town. Fashion knows no boundaries, and this year's Paris Fashion Week proved it again. The Paris Couture Week is all about exhibiting the finest and most luxurious clothes handcrafted by skilled artisans. While this year's Paris Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 25 show is set to witness the result of designer musical chairs, Schiaparelli, like always, left fashion lovers stunned with its unique craftsmanship. The luxury fashion house, known for its avant-garde pieces, has stunned fashion lovers as it introduced a beating heart necklace in this season's Haute Couture week. Fashion commentator Diet Sabya shared a clip from the show that featured a jaw-dropping blood-red-coloured gown with a sleeveless silhouette and a thigh-high slit. The one-of-a-kind piece featured a sculpted breastplate, interestingly placed on the back instead of the front. However, the real show-stopper was a surreal heart-shaped necklace that appeared to come alive. Designed to resemble an anatomically accurate heart, this necklace was crafted with red rubies and mimicked a subtle yet rhythmic motion, providing the illusion of a beating heart. This eerie piece of art divided the internet, as some found the provocative element in this piece, while others simply joked about it. One Instagram user wrote, 'Is it me, or is this actually creepy?" Another user added, 'What in the Professor Quirrell and Voldemort is in this?" A user stated, 'Beautiful…but creeping me out too," while someone else jokingly noted, 'Someone get the frog out of the necklace." These comments were followed by other hilarious takes. One user commented, 'From couture to Carrie, the road is very short!" Another user wrote, 'Annabelle's 2025 dress." Someone else asked, 'What in the exorcism is going on here?" Another wittily tagged PETA and mentioned, 'Find out which animal is harmed in this." Daniel Roseberry's latest presentation for Schiaparelli marked the opening day of Haute Couture Fashion Week. Titled 'Back to the Future', the collection highlighted a palette of black, white and red, stripping the designs of modern elements to blur the lines between past and present. This jaw-dropping collection paid homage to Elsa Schiaparelli's legacy while exploring a post-futuristic vision. view comments First Published: July 09, 2025, 16:52 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
