Tarun Tahiliani for NDTV amid Olympics costume row

Responding to criticism of the attire of the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics, fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani said he stands by the design and criticized “armchair critics” for insinuating that he charged a fee for designing the athletes’ attire.

Speaking exclusively to NDTV, Tahiliani said his team followed the International Olympic Committee guidelines while designing the kits. “A lot of things changed at the last minute. I stand by our design. This is what we Indians wear, and it’s not meant to be a couture show. I accept that people can have their opinions. I’m fine with that, but I stand by the stance. what we did,” he said.

“We wanted the team to wear the Tricolor colors, since most countries follow their flag and this was visible from afar,” he said.

Many on social media criticized the designer for the Indian athletes’ outfits and described them as boring. “It would have been very easy for me to send them with zardozi vests. But it’s not appropriate,” said the designer in response to such criticism.

Some social media users pointed out that the costumes have fingerprints and that India, with its rich heritage of handlooms and embroidery, should have been represented on this world stage with better costumes.

The designer said his team had just three weeks to prepare the costumes. “At this time, I cannot handloom weave 300 uniforms. The shoes were brocade, Benares brocade,” he said.

He also responded to the accusation that the logo of Tasva, a brand of the Aditya Birla Group, of which Mr Tahiliani is the design director, was used on the costumes. “A symbol has been turned into a border, that’s all. When you see a photograph, you don’t even notice it. Earlier we put the Indian flag there, but we were told not to use it. We followed the guidelines,” he said.

The designer vehemently denied allegations that Tasva charged for designing the costumes. “The audacity of these armchair critics. This was paid for by Tasva. It wasn’t done for money, it was done to support our athletes. Asking how much they paid me for this just shows their mentality,” he said.

Tasva had earlier said in a statement that it was honored to design the clothes for the Indian contingent in collaboration with Tarun Tahiliani. “This prestigious collaboration for Tasva, as the ‘official ceremonial dress partner’ of the Indian team at the Paris Olympics, marks a significant milestone in Tasva’s journey as it represents the spirit, culture and elegance of India on the global stage” , he stated. .

He stated that the ceremonial attire of Indian athletes for the opening ceremony is deeply inspired by the Indian flag. “The tricolor palette embodies national pride and unity. The contemporary silhouettes of the Bundi jacket and pre-pleated saree when combined with the judicious choice of fabrics – cotton and viscose crepe – along with practical details, not only ensure comfort and functionality for the athlete, but also represents a perfect balance between tradition and modernity.”