India’s World, Volume 2, Issue 7, July 2026

India and the Geopolitics of Fashion

As Indian fashion, textiles, and crafts gain greater prominence in global markets, the relationship between fashion and geopolitics is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. While growing global demand for sustainable and ethically produced fashion creates fresh opportunities for India to project its rich design traditions as instruments of economic influence and soft power, the risks of cultural appropriation and inadequate protection of intellectual property pose equally significant challenges. This issue of India’s World explores how fashion is emerging as an important dimension of statecraft and what India’s expanding global presence in the sector means for its diplomatic, commercial, and strategic ambitions.

In his editorial note, Happymon Jacob argues that every global phenomenon has a geopolitical dimension. The opening essay by Nandita Abraham contends that India has developed a unique design capability without ever articulating it as a national doctrine. She argues that design should be recognised as a strategic asset capable of advancing India’s economic interests, diplomatic influence, and global reputation.

The issue also features an exclusive conversation with Tarun Tahiliani, essays on the global rise of Korean fashion, the history of the bandhgala and the appropriation of Indian fashion, alongside perspectives on diplomacy, history, geopolitics, culture, and global affairs. As India seeks a larger role in shaping the international order, the challenge is not merely to preserve its rich design traditions but to transform them into enduring instruments of national influence.