A bizarre fashion trend has taken the US by storm, with a Royal Basmati rice sack transformed into a high-end jacket retailing for $1,950 (₹1.62 lakh) at a boutique store.
Spotted by TikTok user Sachi Rajguroo on May 26, the full-length coat, emblazoned with the Royal Basmati logo has sparked a social media frenzy. Labelled as a “one-of-a-kind” piece reflecting “identity and globalisation,” it’s part of a growing wave of upcycled Indian utility items hitting Western luxury markets.
Why It’s Trending
- Viral Shock Value: Rajguroo’s video, widely shared on Instagram and X, stunned netizens, with reactions ranging from “Is this fashion or satire?” to “My mom’s onion bag is now couture?” X posts like @ietrending’s quip, “Would you wear it?” fueled the buzz.
- Sustainable Fashion Debate: Some praise the jacket’s eco-friendly upcycling, with comments like “So sustainable, so fashionable”, while others mock its price, joking, “It costs more than a village’s rice supply.”
- Cultural Irony: The trend follows a viral Basmati rice tote bag spotted in a US salon in December 2024, dubbed the “OG tote bag” on X, highlighting Western fascination with Indian everyday items.
This isn’t the first time Indian utility items have turned trendy. Nordstrom sold “Indian Souvenir” jholas for $48, according to media reports, showcasing how designers are repurposing Desi staples for luxury markets.
While some see it as creative, others on X call it cultural appropriation, with one user joking, “Next, they’ll sell my chai strainer as a necklace.” The jacket, available in limited pieces, underscores fashion’s boundary-pushing nature, but its steep price and rice-sack roots keep the internet amused and divided.
