Victoria's Secret

In 2012, Victoria's Secret launched its "Indian Summer" lingerie collection, featuring models adorned with bindis and feathered accessories. Marketed as "festival couture," the collection retailed for approximately $200. This controversial line was presented as an exotic fantasy, blending elements from distinct cultures into a single aesthetic.

The bindi (बिंदी) is a sacred mark worn on the forehead, predominantly by women in South Asia, symbolizing auspiciousness, purity, and a connection to inner wisdom. It holds deep cultural and religious significance, often indicating marital status or spiritual devotion. Feathers, particularly in elaborate headwear, are sacred symbols for many Indigenous American communities, representing spiritual power, honor, and connection to the natural world. These are not interchangeable decorative items but carry profound, distinct meanings within their respective cultures.

The "Indian Summer" collection sparked immediate outrage from both South Asian and Indigenous American communities, as well as cultural commentators and journalists. Critics highlighted the brand's blatant cultural appropriation, pointing out the disrespectful commodification of sacred symbols for fashion. Objections centered on the lack of understanding or respect for the bindi's spiritual significance and the sacred nature of Indigenous feather adornments, reducing them to mere exotic accessories for a lingerie line.