Reclaiming Taste In A Noisy World

Six months ago, on my wedding day, I stood twirling in a yellow Paithani saree that once belonged to my mother. It wasn’t my “dream dress.”

In Maharashtra, it’s tradition for a bride to wear yellow on her wedding day because the color symbolises joy, prosperity, and hope. But growing up, I never imagined myself in it. I’d already been sold a different dream: the red lehenga. The Bollywood fantasy. Loud, lavish, and dramatic.

And yet, there I was not in a lehenga, not in red but wrapped in yellow silk, feeling powerful in something I’d spent years rejecting.

Looking back, I wonder: did I grow closer to my tradition, or did I just need someone else to tell me it was “cool” first?

It happens all the time. Something we’ve ignored for years becomes desirable overnight if the right platform, person, or price tag reframes it.

From The Streets Of Kolhapur To The Runway In Milan

Why is it that a piece worn by a Western model on a glossy runway, is fashion. But if something similar is worn by your grandmother at home, it’s tradition. 

We recently saw this playing out again. This summer, Prada showcased “leather flat sandals” in their Spring/Summer 2026 menswear show. But to anyone from my home state of Maharashtra, they looked familiar. They were almost identical to Kolhapuri chappals, a traditional sandal that has been part of Kolhapur’s craft heritage for at least 8 centuries. Yet when Prada launched them, there was no mention of India, no credit to the artisans, only a sleek runway presentation and a luxury price tag.

The backlash was swift. South Asians from around the world called them out. Articles pointed out that these chappals sell in India for around ₹800 ($10) while Prada’s retail price hovered around $800 and up. The Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce got involved, Prada’s share price dipped, and under pressure, they acknowledged the inspiration and promised a “Made in India” collection in collaboration with local artisans. But, this rollercoaster could have easily been avoided if credit had been given from the start.

This all sounds good and I am proud this collaboration will put ethnic Indian footwear on the global map. But the skeptic in me wonders: Will artisans finally be paid fairly? Will Indian buyers now pay a premium for something they once bought at a local market? Or will Prada walk away with the biggest slice?

Why Trends Pull Us In?

Ironically, after the launch, searches for Kolhapuri chappals spiked. Some Indian brands marketed them as “the sandals Prada copied,” and artisans reported sales jumping fivefold. People who might have overlooked them before suddenly wanted a pair, not because of heritage, but because they were trending.

You see, we don’t always see the value in something until someone else tells us it matters. We like to think we choose freely, but our choices are rarely independent. We, as humans, are wired to seek belonging, and we perceive trends as shortcuts to fitting in.

Solomon Asch’s famous conformity experiments showed just how easily we override our judgment when others signal approval. Pierre Bourdieu argued that taste is cultural capital. A way to show who you are, who you’re not, and who you want to be.

So in short, we’re not just buying clothes. We’re buying belonging. And nothing sells belonging faster than a trend.

How to Take Back Your Taste?

Here’s what’s been helping me:

1. Audit Your Closet: Notice what you actually wear and love. I use Indyx, a digital wardrobe app, to track every piece I own and spot patterns in my style.

2. Run the 1-Year Test: If you haven’t worn it in a year, ask why. If it’s uncomfortable or no longer feels “you,” let it go.

3. Dress for Yourself: Ask if it makes you feel like yourself or like you’re dressing for someone else’s approval.

4. Research Before You Buy: Learn who made it, where, and why. A brand’s values and a designer’s story tell you more than any “new arrivals” page.

5. Seek Out the Unseen: Visit artisan pop-ups, local craft fairs, and small studios. Skip markets full of mass-produced goods.

6. Control Your Feed: Unfollow creators who push products they would not use themselves. Follow voices who value longevity over novelty.

7. Buy for Decades, Not Weeks: Choose pieces with story and quality you want to carry for a lifetime.

I am learning that taste isn’t what’s trending. t’s the yellow saree you swore you’d never wear. It’s the handmade chappals that fit your feet and your story. It’s the thing you don’t need someone else to validate before you choose it.

So, let me leave you with this thought: Trends will always shout for your attention. Taste will always whisper. Which one are you listening to?