Latest news with #Lucknowi
Mint
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Why Radhika Gupta is raising the alarm over Dior's ₹1.73cr Lucknowi mukaish coat: ‘No credit, hands remain invisible…'
After Italian luxury house Prada lifted India's Kolhapuri sandals for its runway show uncredited, Edelweiss Chief Radhika Gupta has now called out French fashion brand Dior for failing to credit Indian artisans for its ₹ 1.73 crore worth coat ($2,00,000 price tag), featuring Lucknowi mukaish embroidery technique. Showcased during the Paris Fashion Week in June as part of Dior Homme's Menswear ready-to-wear Spring Summer 2026 collection, the coat heavily featured Lucknowi mukaishi embroidery in its pattern and was presumably priced high for the painstaking days of handiwork involved. Mukaish embroidery involves the use of metallic threads — usually gold or silver — to embellish patterns into fabrics (predominantly silk) and create a shimmering effect. It is often used on decorate traditional Indian clothing. In a hearfelt, lengthy post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Radhika Gupta called out the lack of visibility for the local artisans involved in making luxury brand products and the lack of credit to India and Indian craft as a source of inspiration. She wrote: 'One more handloom, one more headline. Dior sells a $200K coat using Lucknowi mukaish embroidery. 12 Indian artisans. 34 days of work. No credit. No context. No mention of India.' 'The world loves Indian craftsmanship — But rarely credits the craftspeople. And almost never shares the value. Because the branding, storytelling, and pricing power stay elsewhere. The hand that creates remains invisible,' she added. Radhika Gupta noted that India must take a page out of Japan and South Korea's playbook to capitalise on 'soft power' using our local crafts. 'Culture is soft power. Japan did it with design. Korea did it with pop culture. India must do it with craft. From sourcing destination to storytelling nation. A home of global brands. The lion has to come out. And roar,' she added. Notably, this incident from Dior comes only a month after Prada faced backlash from Indian artisans and politicians for using traditional designs without credit in its Spring-Summer 2026 menswear collection. In a letter addressed to Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Prada's head of corporate social responsibility, Lorenzo Bertelli wrote, 'We acknowledge that the sandals... are inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage. We deeply recognise the cultural significance of such Indian craftsmanship,' Reuters reported citing the document dated June 27. Talk began after models in the Milan show were seen wearing leather sandals with a braided design — closely resembling handmade Kolhapuri slippers, dating back to the 12th century. According to Bertelli, Prada is committed to responsible design and respecting traditional Indian crafts. The brand wishes to engage with local Indian artisans and ensure they get proper credit for their work, he said.
Mint
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Why Radhika Gupta is raising the alarm over Dior's ₹1.73cr Lucknowi mukaish coat: ‘No credit, hands remain invisible…'
After Italian luxury house Prada lifted India's Kolhapuri sandals for its runway show uncredited, Edelweiss Chief Radhika Gupta has now called out French fashion brand Dior for failing to credit Indian artisans for its ₹ 1.73 crore worth coat ($2,00,000 price tag), featuring Lucknowi mukaish embroidery technique. Showcased during the Paris Fashion Week in June as part of Dior Homme's Menswear ready-to-wear Spring Summer 2026 collection, the coat heavily featured Lucknowi mukaishi embroidery in its pattern and was presumably priced high for the painstaking days of handiwork involved. Mukaish embroidery involves the use of metallic threads — usually gold or silver — to embellish patterns into fabrics (predominantly silk) and create a shimmering effect. It is often used on decorate traditional Indian clothing. In a hearfelt, lengthy post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Radhika Gupta called out the lack of visibility for the local artisans involved in making luxury brand products and the lack of credit to India and Indian craft as a source of inspiration. She wrote: 'One more handloom, one more headline. Dior sells a $200K coat using Lucknowi mukaish embroidery. 12 Indian artisans. 34 days of work. No credit. No context. No mention of India.' 'The world loves Indian craftsmanship — But rarely credits the craftspeople. And almost never shares the value. Because the branding, storytelling, and pricing power stay elsewhere. The hand that creates remains invisible,' she added. Radhika Gupta noted that India must take a page out of Japan and South Korea's playbook to capitalise on 'soft power' using our local crafts. 'Culture is soft power. Japan did it with design. Korea did it with pop culture. India must do it with craft. From sourcing destination to storytelling nation. A home of global brands. The lion has to come out. And roar,' she added. Notably, this incident from Dior comes only a month after Prada faced backlash from Indian artisans and politicians for using traditional designs without credit in its Spring-Summer 2026 menswear collection. In a letter addressed to Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Prada's head of corporate social responsibility, Lorenzo Bertelli wrote, 'We acknowledge that the sandals... are inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage. We deeply recognise the cultural significance of such Indian craftsmanship,' Reuters reported citing the document dated June 27. Talk began after models in the Milan show were seen wearing leather sandals with a braided design — closely resembling handmade Kolhapuri slippers, dating back to the 12th century. According to Bertelli, Prada is committed to responsible design and respecting traditional Indian crafts. The brand wishes to engage with local Indian artisans and ensure they get proper credit for their work, he said. It remains to be seen if Dior faces similar pressure to make amends.
India Today
2 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Edelweiss' Radhika Gupta slams Dior for ignoring Indian artisans behind $200K coat
A luxury fashion piece is making headlines, but for more than just its the global fashion brand, recently showcased a coat worth $200,000. What makes this coat special is the delicate 'mukaish' embroidery used on it, a traditional craft from Lucknow, India. It took 12 Indian artisans 34 days to complete the detailed there was no mention of their names, no reference to India, no credit given in the campaign. That silence spoke louder than Gupta, MD & CEO Edelweiss Mutual Fund, voiced what many were thinking. "One more handloom, one more headline. Dior sells a $200K coat using Lucknowi mukaish embroidery," she wrote on X. 'The world loves Indian craftsmanship — But rarely credits the craftspeople. And almost never shares the value,' she artisans have been creating world-class work for generations. From handwoven saris to embroidered fabrics, their skills are unmatched. Yet, when these works are featured on global platforms, the origin often goes unnoticed.'The branding, storytelling, and pricing power stay elsewhere,' Gupta added. 'The hand that creates remains invisible.'This is not just about giving credit. It's about giving artisans their rightful place in the global fashion fashion houses make billions, while the artisans, often working in small homes or rural workshops, earn a fraction. The disconnect between the creator and the consumer not just about money. It's about identity, pride, and global recognition. "Culture is soft power," Gupta added. Japan did it with design. Korea did it with pop culture. India must do it with craft."She believes it's time for India to shift gears, from being just a sourcing destination to becoming a storytelling nation. A place known not just for raw talent, but for brands that carry the story of their people and message was clear: "The lion has to come out. And roar."As the conversation around ethical fashion and fair trade grows louder, it's time for India's craftspeople to move from behind the scenes to centre stage. After all, without them, there is no story.- EndsMust Watch
NDTV
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"May These Kinds Of Gifts Find Me" - Foodies React To Viral 'Biryani Bouquet'
How much biryani is too much biryani? For biryani lovers, even the fragrance from afar is enough to spark cravings. Biryani, made with love, flavour and tradition, is believed to be much more than just a dish. This culinary masterpiece is prepared with aromatic basmati rice, tender meat or vegetables and a perfect blend of spices. Whether it is the slow-cooked Hyderabadi version, spicy Lucknowi delight, or the Kolkata-style one served with a potato, this delicacy has captured hearts around the world. Also Read: Texas-Based Vlogger Makes Kerala-Style Biryani, Indian Foodies Approve Now, what if you received a bouquet of biryani as a gift? Sounds amazing, doesn't it? In a video making the rounds on social media, a man can be seen preparing a biryani bouquet. The clip begins with him placing two wrapping papers on a basket, followed by what appear to be biryani-filled containers of two different types. This is followed by the piling up of these boxes one after the other - it seems like a true celebration of foodie love. Afterwards, he wraps them in red-coloured cellophane paper and decorates the bouquet with a red dupatta. "New in market Biryani gift," reads the caption. Take a look at the video here. Photos Credit: Instagram/ almahirfoods Here is how the internet reacted to this foodie bouquet: One user said, "The best," followed by a couple of clapping emojis. Another biryani lover wished, "May these kinds of gifts find me." A person mentioned, "But brother Raita is left out, will you make another bouquet of it?" Someone added, " Puri degh he bhejh dete ye plastic k dibbe me rakhna zaroori tha kya. (You could have sent the whole biryani pot, was it necessary to keep them in plastic boxes?)" "New idea unlocked," one more user penned, followed by a series of laughing emojis. Meanwhile, a person said, " Pack krte me hi briyani thandi ho jayegi (Biryani will get cold while packing)." " Jaldi pahuchana kahi kharab n ho jae (Deliver it fast so that it doesn't get spoiled)," read yet another comment from a concerned food enthusiast. We are intrigued by the concept of this viral biryani bouquet. What about you? Also Read: Husband's Love for Biryani Inspires Wife To Make This Creative Birthday 'Cake' Advertisement For the latest food news, health tips and recipes, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and YouTube. Tags: Viral Video Biryani Bouquet Food Bouquet Viral News Biryani Show full article Comments
Economic Times
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
In Ankhon ki Masti: Why watching Umrao Jaan is restorative in more ways than one
A trope of Hindi cinema I cherished as a child - the action-oriented, male-centred films - was the one where a weepy-faced boy would dramatically morph into the adult star 15 minutes in. Sometimes it happened during a chase scene: the child actor's legs would turn into sturdier, jeans-clad ones, a boy would jump off a bridge and land on a train as the dashing hero. Or a match cut, or camera swish might render Master Mayur into Amitabh Bachchan, and whistles and yells of approvals could begin. I was amusingly reminded of those scenes while watching the splendid restoration of Muzaffar Ali's 1981 Umrao Jaan on a big screen recently. Mid-dance, the young girl Ameeran - sold into a Lucknow brothel and renamed Umrao - turns into the adult version of the character, played by Rekha. To my mind, this scene was as star-heralding in its own way as the ones mentioned above. But Umrao Jaan is, of course, a different sort of film from my childhood favourites, and I found myself rapt by this languid, introspective, woman-centric narrative - in a way that I wasn't as a youngster. There was so much to absorb and savour. Songs most obviously, costumes and sets, interactions between assertive women and effeminate or suppliant men. Or details such as the tribute-casting of the veteran Bharat Bhushan in a small part. Much has already been said about female solidarity (commingled with female conflict) in Umrao Jaan - about the balancing of scales not just between the sexes but also among women, about their interrelationships in precarious situations, where vulnerability goes hand-in-hand with the exercising of dignity and childhood memories had fixed this as a story about Lucknowi tehzeeb - soulful poetry and music taking precedence, even in a setting where women's bodies are traded, a world where even a wild-eyed bandit might be respectful towards the heroine. But the actual film is more dynamic and varied than that. It gets much of its impact from the profane moments that joltingly remind us where we are. The unexpected use of the word 'randi' in an exchange. Or the veteran Dina Pathak spitting out the line, 'Aise haram-zaade marte hain kabhi?' For me, Umrao Jaan is also inseparable from my shifting view of Rekha, who was not one of my favourites as a child. I saw her as one of Bachchan's less interesting heroines - not as sophisticated as Parveen Babi, not as sweet as Jaya Bhaduri, or as unconventional as Raakhee. My interest in her tawaif roles was limited to Muqaddar ka Sikander. But over time, this yielded to an affection for the maternal aspect of the Rekha persona, as well as the image - supplied in 80s-90s film magazines - of the woman living in solitude, childless, partner-less, her closest companion a beloved dog. One's view of the bereft Umrao can be deepened by what one knows (or thinks one knows) of Rekha's real life - including her being cut off from a secure family life early on (much as Umrao is) despite being a superstar's is also something about watching an old, familiar film alongside someone with whom you have a complex history. My viewing companion and I have long been in a strained relationship, imbued with sadness and separation - and yet when it came to little observations or childhood memory triggers around the film, we leant in and whispered to each other, as unselfconsciously as in the good old days. Compare Rekha and Naseer with their roles in Ijaazat later in the decade. Look at how 'seedha' Farooque Shaikh is here, and how 'tedha' Naseer is, in contrast to their roles in Katha. How much Shabana Azmi now resembles her mother Shaukat Kaifi (who plays the kotha madam here). For a few hours, a shared experience of a film, and the memories associated with it, had transported us back to a time and space when things were gentler. Maybe that's why they call it a restoration. Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. India's gas dream runs on old pipes. Can a European fix unclog the future? Did Jane Street manipulate Indian market or exploit its shallowness? Newton vs. industry: Inside new norms that want your car to be more fuel-efficient Is gold always the best bet? Think again Do bank stress tests continue to serve their intended purpose? These large- and mid-cap stocks can give more than 24% return in 1 year, according to analysts Suited for the long term, even with headwinds: 8 stocks from healthcare & pharma sectors with upside potential of up to 39% Stock picks of the week: 5 stocks with consistent score improvement and return potential of more than 22% in 1 year
