The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) organized a ceremonial send-off in New Delhi, where they unveiled the new kits, ceremonial Olympic costumes, playing kit, performance shoes and travel gear for the Indian contingent. However, the design choices have not gone down well with netizens.  

People were comparing the Olympics costume with the school’s Independence Day program. On social media, people are calling out the outfits for their tackiness. 

What are the specifications of the Olympic costumes? 

Indian female athletes wore saris of viscose crepe paired with a high-neck blouse, while male athletes adorned kurta bundi sets made from lightweight moss cotton, both featuring the Tricolor, which were crafted by Tarun Tahiliani, the ace fashion designer. 

Bare Minimum Effort from Tahiliani 

Tahiliani is the magical fashion designer who styles Indian celebrities and Kim Kardashian for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding celebrations. But he was trolled for his design for the Indian athletes. 

The clothes from TASVA, a brand by Tarun Tahiliani, were worn by athletes confidently walking the runway at the send-off ceremony. The collection also featured sports gear from JSW Inspire and PUMA. 

TASVA chose to use digital ikat prints instead of traditional weaves, which further sparked the controversy. Critics believed that the color and print options were average and did not represent India’s rich cultural heritage well.

They also added that the uniforms could have highlighted traditional Indian embroidery or hand-painted patterns. 

The Fashion Magician Response to the Dress’s Controversy 

Tarun Tahiliani expressed that the athletes were going to be wearing it for three hours. That’s why they chose cotton. 

The designer added that he supports creating attire that is comfortable, light weight and suitable for the weather.  

He further emphasized, “It truly reflects the Indian modern vision, the evolution of Indian fashion, and the fusion of traditional craftsmanship with innovative design concepts”.  

Former Player and People Reactions to the Designer Response  

Former badminton star player Jwala Gutta also expressed that Olympic costumes were uncomfortable. She said that women’s sarees received negative feedback due to their poor fit and the challenges faced by some athletes while wearing them. 

On making the clothing for 40 degrees Celsius, one user stated that the designer’s lack of effort is evident from his statement about the weather forecast for Paris on the day of the ceremony, with temperatures ranging from 15 degrees to 25 degrees Celsius. 

On making clothing comfortable and suitable for the weather, another user questioned that making the clothes comfortable doesn’t mean to make the athletes look like they’ve escaped from a circus. 

Team Mongolia stole the show by Olympic Costume

Team Mongolia’s uniforms created by a local brand, Michel and Amazonka stole the spotlight with their stunning fusion of fashion and culture for mixing Mongolian culture with contemporary styles. 

Their outfits combine Olympic symbols with a unique Mongolian touch. They even had a purse resembling polti bags. 

In opening ceremony Indian Olympic uniform was criticized for looking tacky compared to Mongolia’s Olympic attire. Meanwhile, one user expressed disappointment saying, why does everything need to look tacky? The Olympic ceremony costumes should at least look refined. 

India’s ceremonial Olympic costumes for the 2024 Olympics in Paris are causing controversy. It’s important for the country to have a strategy that represents its diverse culture and creative talent. The outfits will represent India’s pride and identity to the world.