The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris kicked off on 26th July with a dazzling ceremony. Nearly 7,000 athletes participated in an enormous and grandiose display that paraded past the ancient and iconic monuments of the French capital down the Seine River as thousands of people attended the celebration despite the torrential rain which couldn’t dampen their spirit. Meanwhile, ace badminton player PV Sindhu and Veteran table tennis star Achantha Sharath Kamal were the flag-bearers for the Indian contingent which consisted of 78 athletes and officials who made their grand entry as part of the Parade of Nations.
The spectacular event, which was attended by locals, people from the neighbouring areas and visitors from other countries featured Indian athletes dressed in traditional garments created by Tarun Tahiliani’s fashion brand TASVA, which he co-owns with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail group. The women donned identical saris, reflecting India’s tricolour flag, while the men were dressed in traditional kurta bundi outfits which incorporated traditional ikat patterns and Banarasi brocade. Notably, the costumes failed to impress netizens who criticized the celebrity designer and the govt for the ‘mediocre designs’ and believed it was disrespectful to the athletes. The alleged poor quality of the uniforms was a buzzing topic of conversation on social media.
Dr Pooja Tripathi called the clothes “horrendous” and wanted Tarun Tahiliani and the bureaucrats of the Ministry of Textiles who approved of them to be tried for treason.
Tarun Tahiliani and the ministry of textiles bureaucrat who okayed this horrendous ceremonial saree should be tried for treason !
— Dr Pooja Tripathi (@Pooja_Tripathii) July 27, 2024
What a wasted opportunity! pic.twitter.com/pinvFVqJqd
Tarun Tahiliani prepared a variety of dresses, one of which was worn by Kim Kardashian, at the lavish wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant recently. A user expressed disappointment while drawing comparisons between this and Olympic attire which she referred to as “uniquely ugly” and also posted some stunning pictures of other outfits created by the designer. She then added, “Apparently the ikat digital print was done to meet timelines which is fair.”
Just for reference – some of Tarun Tahiliani's creations that have been in the public eye recently
— Full-time Kitaab Buyer Part-time Reader (@AlphaNaMila) July 27, 2024
the modern saree is quite literally his signature
Not to mention high artisanship – apparently the ikat digital print was done to meet timelines which is fair https://t.co/WkjhAh5y3u pic.twitter.com/LUzRDbceJv
An individual wrote that the Ambani wedding hospitality team served as an inspiration for the official Indian team uniform and mockingly remarked, “Bravo, Tarun Tahiliani.”
Indian team’s official attire looks inspired from the Ambani Wedding hospitality team. Bravo #TarunTahiliani pic.twitter.com/4v0k4tbUxP
— Wokeflix (@wokeflix_) July 27, 2024
Another one labelled the design as mediocre and wrote that the “uniform blends seamlessly into the sea of monotony, with a design as uninspired as a rainy Monday.” He further voiced his frustration and called the “fabric lacklustre and silhouette forgettable which evoke more yawns than excitement.” He concluded, “In the parade of fashion, this piece fails to march.”
#TarunTahiliani This #olympics uniform blends seamlessly into the sea of monotony, with a design as uninspired as a rainy Monday. Its lackluster fabric and forgettable silhouette evoke more yawns than excitement. In the parade of fashion, this piece fails to march.
— ninadsheth (@ninadsheth) July 27, 2024
A netizen commented, “I can design better costumes than this Tarun Tahiliani,” and charged that he completely destroyed the elegance of Indian outfits for the Olympics. “Surely some Sarkari babu (bureaucrat) hired him,” she stated
I can design better costumes than this Tarun Tahiliani he completed ruined the richness of Indian attire in Olympics. Surely some Sarkari babu hired him 🤷🏻♀️#TarunTahiliani #Olympics pic.twitter.com/IdgdXIS9v5
— Pooja Sangwan 🇮🇳 (@ThePerilousGirl) July 27, 2024
“Tarun Tahiliani has caused an international embarrassment by designing such an outfit for our Olympics team,” mentioned another user. She added that customs didn’t appear “fresh and crisp” and lamented, “Couldn’t be worse than this.”
#TarunTahiliani has caused an international embarrassment by designing such outfit for our Olympics team! It’s not even looking fresh and crisp. Couldn’t be worse than this. https://t.co/qmVpDPQIFv pic.twitter.com/yK9n4S6xiO
— Ruchi 𝕏 (@Ruchi4Tweets) July 26, 2024
Another individual slammed the designer and remarked, “Shame on Tarun Tahiliani for creating such cheap designs for our sportspersons.”
Shame On Tarun Tahiliani
— Dr.Seema (@drseemat) July 27, 2024
दो कौड़ी की डिजाइन बनाई है हमारे खिलाड़ियों के लिए..#taruntahiliani 😤 pic.twitter.com/nnPbxDJGMa
A user reminded that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has acknowledged fifty distinct Indian textile crafts and also named a few including Banarasi, Khadi, Phulakari, Bandhani, Patola and Pashmina, among others. “Seriously, Indian Olympics and Tarun Tahiliani, this was the best,” she then questioned in dismay.
UNESCO has recognized 50 different textile crafts of India .
— gita (@amethysthues) July 27, 2024
Dabu,Indigo,Kalamkari, Banarasi, Ajrak, Ikat, Bagh, Kantha, Chanderi, Chikankari, Bandhani, Phulkari, Patola, Pashmina, and Khadi are just some .
Seriously #IndianOlympics and #TarunTahiliani ??
This was the best ?? pic.twitter.com/3hdvXQSxE0
Dr Nandita Iyer dubbed the attire “a disgrace to the rich weaving culture and history of India” and stated that she has prettier sarees being sold on the streets of Mumbai for Rs 200 “than these ceremonial costumes he has designed.” She asked, “Tricolors slapped together carelessly, ikat print and cheap polyester-like fabric. Did you come up with it in the final three minutes before the deadline, or did you contract it out to an intern,” while taking a jab at the popular designer.
Hello Tarun Tahiliani!
— Dr Nandita Iyer (@saffrontrail) July 27, 2024
I have seen better Sarees sold in Mumbai streets for Rs.200 than these ceremonial uniforms you’ve ‘designed’.
Cheap polyester like fabric, Ikat PRINT (!!!), tricolors thrown together with no imagination
Did you outsource it to an intern or come up with it… https://t.co/aVkXGmg80K
There were hundreds of similar sentiments expressed by social media users who were shocked by the low quality of the outfits. Some of them also blamed the administration along with designer Tarun Tahiliani, however, it should be noted that decisions pertaining to such matters are handled by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) which is headed by PT Usha and is an autonomous body. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports facilitates and assists them, but these independent organizations make their own decisions in accordance with international norms.
Meanwhile, some X users also wondered if Tarun Tahiliani misused the privilege of designing attire for Indian Olympic contingent to promote his private brand. Users noticed striking similarity between the design on the border of Sarees worn by Indian athletes and the logo of Tasva, a fashion brand owned by Indivinity Clothing, a partnership between Tarun Tahiliani and Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd.
Not only has Tarun Tahiliani designed this dress which a lot of people are disliking, he has also put the logo of TASVA on the borders of the dress.
— Shubhendu (@BBTheorist) July 27, 2024
TASVA is a collaborative label of Tarun Tahiliani and Aditya Birla Group set up in 2021. pic.twitter.com/sUZJ1aQXaa
Significantly, the govt is not even allowed to interfere in the functioning of the sports bodies. When governments are accused of interfering in the national Olympic bodies or specific sports federations, such sport bodies are suspended by their international parent organisations. For example, in 2022, FIFA suspended the All India Football Federation citing undue influence from third parties. It was the result of the Supreme Court disbanding AIFF and appointing a 3-member committee. Similarly, Sri Lanka Cricket was suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) due to government interference last year, which was lifted later.
Therefore, even if the govt or the sports ministry want to, they can’t interfere in the selection of attire for the athletes. It is also not surprising that IOA President PT Usha has yet to respond to the criticism as the current focus of the body is to exceed India’s past performances in the world’s biggest sporting event and bring home as many medals as possible.
Tarun Tahiliani’s support for anti-CAA protest
Islamists, liberals and the opposition parties headed by Congress furiously opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 which provided an accelerated pathway to Indian citizenship for persecuted religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who arrived in India by 2014. The agitation swiftly transformed into major riots, stubborn demonstrations, vilification of Hindus and even conspiracies to cut off the country’s North Eastern states including Assam from the rest of India.
Notably, in 2019, Tarun Tahiliani participated in the protest organised at New Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia against providing citizenship to marginalized people from India’s three Islamic neighbours. Inafct, a popular social media handle “maithun” even asked if these Olympic outfits were his way of taking revenge for the implantation of CAA in the country.
Abey #TarunTahiliani ye design kiya hai ya CAA ka badla liya hai India se 😭 pic.twitter.com/pMS9t4AOIq
— maithun (@Being_Humor) July 27, 2024
The nationwide anti-CAA-NRC protests reportedly “greatly moved” the designer who claimed, “I mostly work with Muslims in my factories. We work as brothers and that’s the only sentiment that has to be nurtured. This country has survived the partition, the Sikh riots and Babri Masjid’s demolition and we need to co-exist, be progressive and focus on more important issues that will build this country’s future.”
While sincerely appreciated, his feelings of brotherhood had no bearing on the law because CAA was irrelevant to India’s Muslims. It was a helping hand extended to the disadvantaged and marginalized people of three Islamic nations. However, like an integral part of the Islamist-liberal ecosystem, he was equally unconcerned with the veracity of the arguments used to further the narrative.
Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics
India has sent the second-largest delegation to the Paris Olympics in 2024 with 117 athletes competing in 16 disciplines for the chance to bring home glory. However, only 68 of them were present during the Paris opening ceremony since not many athletes had reached the Olympic Village yet. “IOA President PT Usha and Chef-de-Mission Gagan Narang have given top priority to athletes in the composition of the contingent in the Athletes’ Parade. Many have competitions on Saturday (27th July) and IOA has been respectful of their decision to prioritise preparation and not take part in the Opening Ceremony.” Indian Olympic Association informed.
In this year’s Summer Olympics, the athletes will compete across 32 sports in 329 competitions before the event ends on 11th August.
