For those of you who are unfamiliar with what a lungi is, it’s essentially a sarong-like garment. To wear it, you wrap an unstitched fabric around your waist and let it extend till your legs.
Lungis are a huge deal in India. In fact, an entire Bollywood song was shot featuring Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone that talked about the infamous “lungi dance”.
Apart from inspiring Bollywood songs, the lungi has also made headlines for “inspiring” goray designers. Just last year, fashion retailer, ZARA, was under fire for selling a “check mini skirt” on its site which was essentially just a lungi lookalike.
The product was being described as a “flowing skirt with draped detail in the front” and was sold for around £70 online.
Um, yeah, that’s a lungi, sis. What’s next? Marketing our churidar pajamas as glorified skinny jeans?
Now, in an ironic twist of fate, “modern lungis”, which essentially look like a skirt, are being sold for a whopping $175.
Kon say angle say yay lungi lag rahi hai?
Matlab, zara description tau check karein.
“Two buttons”. “No clumsy tying”. Someone, please explain to me how someone thought this was an accurate description for a lungi and not a skirt?
But wait, there’s more.
The “Designed in Brooklyn, NY” really puts it all in perspective, doesn’t it?
This item was initially discovered by a Twitter user who shared this concerning news with everyone.
can't believe made in north america lungis exist that are selling for $175. pic.twitter.com/lJl1V37VtL
— A Song Of Rice And Thayir (@nah_im_abdulla) May 12, 2019
Needless to say, the imposter modern lungi was definitely not accepted with open arms by the desi community online and people were seriously angry at this blatant bastardization of their culture.
People did not hold back in voicing their disgust over the modern lungi.
Utility kilt ass looking
— Nadya Agrawal (@nadya_agrawal) May 12, 2019
Aloo ki bori would be a more fitting name for this garment.
A jutebag with a hole to win the potato race, nice. 👏👏👏
— Su 🐧 (@Kaunstellation) May 12, 2019
No one was ready to refer to this… “creation” as a lungi.
Onyx and flax garbage that flies in the face of the true lungi whose beauty lies in the fact that it is tied. (I'm so mad I have resorted to assonance) https://t.co/jFbEDSGNjF
— P Ray Murray (@praymurray) May 12, 2019
Wow i cant believe diaspora invented a… wait for it… SKIRT!!!!
— Priyanka Paul (@artwhoring) May 12, 2019
THIS IS A SKIRT. No clumsy tying, no lungi.
— Nupur Asher (@AsherNupur) May 12, 2019
What’s worse? The deplorable design or the drab color choices?
Ultimate comfort! 🤣 Wait onyx and flax are colours? Sounds like vegan breakfast
— yolande (@yolandewrites) May 12, 2019
Can you believe this is being sold for $175??
$175?? pic.twitter.com/ENAyACjc6k
— ghost deserved better (@altemaarpee) May 12, 2019
Kudos to this user for asking the REAL questions.
So modern lungis can have both front and back pockets, but most of women's jeans/pants still come with fake pockets?!?! Ffs
— Nano (@neha_kp2) May 12, 2019
So, what do you make of this entire debacle? Do you think people are being too harsh with their criticism of the modern lungi or is it all justified? Let us know in the comments below.
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Cover image via @nah_im_abdulla/Twitter