​American luxury giant Ralph Lauren has found itself at the center of a mounting global controversy following the release of its latest "Print Cotton Wrap Skirt." While the brand markets the piece as a vibrant addition to its Summer 2026 collection, critics and cultural advocates are calling it a textbook case of cultural appropriation and "pricing audacity."

​The garment, which retails for a staggering ₹44,800 ($375), features patterns instantly recognizable to the Indian subcontinent as Bandhani—a millennia-old tie-dye technique native to Gujarat and Rajasthan. However, the product listing on the brand’s official website avoids mentioning India entirely, referring to the design simply as a "vibrant design inspired by traditional tie-dye techniques."

​The "Machine-Made" with luxury price tag

​The primary point of contention lies in the authenticity of the craft. Traditional Bandhani is a labor-intensive art form where artisans hand-tie thousands of tiny knots into fabric before dyeing it to create intricate geometric patterns.

​Netizens and textile experts have been quick to point out that the Ralph Lauren version appears to be a digital print rather than a genuine hand-tied textile.

​Expert Take: "You are paying luxury prices for a machine approximation of centuries of handwork," noted one digital creator whose post calling out the brand went viral.

​The Math: Critics argue that a high-quality, authentic cotton Bandhani skirt in local Indian markets typically costs between ₹500 and ₹3,000. The Ralph Lauren price tag represents a markup of over 1,500% for a product that lacks the soul of the original craftsmanship.

​A Pattern of "Cultural Erasure"

​This isn't the first time the fashion house has faced scrutiny. Just months ago, the brand was criticized for showcasing "Indian jhumkas" as "vintage earrings" during Paris Fashion Week.

​"It’s not just about the money; it’s about the erasure," says a spokesperson for a global craft advocacy group. "By stripping the name 'India' and 'Bandhani' from the marketing, they are colonizing the aesthetic while bypassing the very people who created it."

​The controversy has sparked a wider debate on where "inspiration" ends and "appropriation" begins. High-end designers frequently look to global cultures for ideas, but the industry standard is shifting toward a requirement for transparency and credit.

Public Backlash

Social media platforms have been flooded with comments from disillusioned consumers. "The audacity to sell a machine-printed skirt for the price of a luxury vacation while ignoring the artisans is peak corporate greed," wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter). Others have mockingly compared the design to "AI-generated slop" that fails to capture the precision of real Indian textiles.

Ralph Lauren has not issued a formal statement regarding the backlash or whether they intend to update the product’s description to credit its Indian heritage.