Category 01The Silent Borrowing

High Fashion.

"When inspiration becomes extraction, it is no longer an homage. It is a heist."

Luxury houses translate centuries-old Indian techniques into runway 'discoveries'—then mark them up a thousand times over while the artisan goes uncredited.

23 cases on file ⟶
Category ⟶
00All Cases01High Fashion02Textiles & Jewelry03The Wellness Hijack04Spiritual Symbols05Culinary Rebranding062025–26 Breakthroughs07Runway Plagiarism08Textiles & Home Decor09Clean Beauty & Botanical Hijack10Culinary Rebranding II11Patent & Legal Wars12Clean Girl Lifestyle13Gentrification of Parenting14History, Sport & Design15Big Tech & App Branding16Architectural Theft17Academic & Scientific Inversions18Food, Beverage & FMCG19Mathematics & Astronomy20Yoga & Spiritual Hijack21Ayurveda Extraction22Philosophy & Cognitive Science23Chemistry & Metallurgy
APPROPRIATED
CASE #001
01

मुकैश / मुकेश

Mukaish (Mukesh)

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh2024
Open Receipt

Dior

Mukesh Embroidered Coat
₹1.7 Cr
≈ $204,819

मुकैश / मुकेश

True Value · Mukaish (Mukesh)

Uncredited
ERASED
CASE #002
01

कोल्हापुरी चप्पल

Kolhapuri Chappal

Kolhapur, Maharashtra2025
Open Receipt

Prada

Open-Toe Leather Sandals
₹99,600
≈ $1,200

कोल्हापुरी चप्पल

True Value · Kolhapuri Chappal

₹1,000
≈ $12
REBRANDED
CASE #003
01

बंधनी

Bandhani

Gujarat & Rajasthan2026
Open Receipt

Ralph Lauren

Printed Cotton Wrap Skirt
₹44,800
≈ $540

बंधनी

True Value · Bandhani

₹1,200
≈ $14
UNCREDITED
CASE #004
01

दस्तार / ਦਸਤਾਰ

Sikh Dastār (Turban)

Punjab2019
Open Receipt

Gucci

"Indy Full" Turban
₹65,570
≈ $790

दस्तार / ਦਸਤਾਰ

True Value · Sikh Dastār (Turban)

Sacred
STOLEN
CASE #005
01

मांग टीका, ज़रदोज़ी

Maang Tikka & Zardosi

Lucknow & North India2012
Open Receipt

Chanel

Paris-Bombay Métiers d'Art Collection
₹8.3 L
≈ $10,000

मांग टीका, ज़रदोज़ी

True Value · Maang Tikka & Zardosi

Uncredited
APPROPRIATED
CASE #006
01

लुंगी

Lungi

South India2018
Open Receipt

Zara

Check Mini Skirt
₹8,300
≈ $100

लुंगी

True Value · Lungi

₹332
≈ $4.00
ERASED
CASE #007
01

रबारी कढ़ाई

Rabari Embroidery

Kutch, Gujarat2021
Open Receipt

Isabel Marant

Embroidered Tunics
₹1.2 L
≈ $1,400

रबारी कढ़ाई

True Value · Rabari Embroidery

₹3,000
≈ $36
REBRANDED
CASE #008
01

मांग टीका

Maang Tikka

Pan-India2017
Open Receipt

ASOS

"Chandelier" Hair Clip
₹1,265
≈ $15

मांग टीका

True Value · Maang Tikka

Sacred
UNCREDITED
CASE #009
01

श्री गणेश

Lord Ganesha

Hindu iconography2013
Open Receipt

Urban Outfitters

Ganesha Socks
₹664
≈ $8.00

श्री गणेश

True Value · Lord Ganesha

Sacred
STOLEN
CASE #010
01

साड़ी

Sari

Pan-India2011
Open Receipt

Hermès

"Sari" Collection
₹6.6 L
≈ $8,000

साड़ी

True Value · Sari

₹2,000
≈ $24
APPROPRIATED
CASE #011
01

बूटा

Kashmiri Buta

Kashmir
Open Receipt

Etro

Paisley House Print
₹2.9 L
≈ $3,500

बूटा

True Value · Kashmiri Buta

Uncredited
ERASED
CASE #012
01

बिंदी

Bindi

Hindu tradition
Open Receipt

Dolce & Gabbana

Runway Bindi
—

बिंदी

True Value · Bindi

Sacred
REBRANDED
CASE #013
01

पटोला

Patola / Ikat

Patan, Gujarat2013
Open Receipt

Louis Vuitton

Monogram Ikat Bag
₹3.5 L
≈ $4,200

पटोला

True Value · Patola / Ikat

₹1.5 L
≈ $1,807
UNCREDITED
CASE #014
01

बिंदी

Bindi + Feathers

South Asia / Indigenous Americas2012
Open Receipt

Victoria's Secret

"Indian Summer" Lingerie
₹16,600
≈ $200

बिंदी

True Value · Bindi + Feathers

Sacred
STOLEN
CASE #015
01

कुर्ता

Kurta

Pan-India
Open Receipt

H&M

"Boho Longline Tunic"
₹3,320
≈ $40

कुर्ता

True Value · Kurta

₹400
≈ $4.82
APPROPRIATED
CASE #016
01

फुलकारी, कांथा

Phulkari & Kantha

Punjab & Bengal
Open Receipt

Tory Burch

"Coastline" Embroidered Dress
₹49,634
≈ $598

फुलकारी, कांथा

True Value · Phulkari & Kantha

₹2,500
≈ $30
ERASED
CASE #017
01

आभला

Abhla (Mirror Work)

Kutch, Gujarat2016
Open Receipt

Valentino

Beaded & Mirrored Gowns
₹10.0 L
≈ $12,000

आभला

True Value · Abhla (Mirror Work)

₹15,000
≈ $181
REBRANDED
CASE #018
01

जूती

Jutti

Punjab & Rajasthan
Open Receipt

Christian Louboutin

"Bollywood" Heels
₹1.2 L
≈ $1,400

जूती

True Value · Jutti

₹800
≈ $9.64
UNCREDITED
CASE #019
01

पल्लू

Sari Pallu

Pan-India
Open Receipt

Marchesa

Sari-Draped Red Carpet Gowns
₹12 L
≈ $15,000

पल्लू

True Value · Sari Pallu

Uncredited
STOLEN
CASE #020
01

सांगानेरी, बगरू

Sanganeri & Bagru

Rajasthan
Open Receipt

Anthropologie

Block-Print Bedding
₹20,584
≈ $248

सांगानेरी, बगरू

True Value · Sanganeri & Bagru

₹1,400
≈ $17
ERASED
CASE #157
01

कुर्ता

Kurta

Pan-India2021
Open Receipt

Gucci

"Floral Kaftan"
₹2.5 L
≈ $3,012

कुर्ता

True Value · Kurta

₹500
≈ $6.02
REBRANDED
CASE #158
01

सांगानेरी / चिकनकारी

Sanganeri & Chikankari

Rajasthan & Lucknow
Open Receipt

Sézane (Paris)

"Boho-Chic Parisian" Drops
$$$

सांगानेरी / चिकनकारी

True Value · Sanganeri & Chikankari

Uncredited
UNCREDITED
CASE #159
01

कच्छ रबारी

Kutch Rabari Embroidery

Gujarat
Open Receipt

Isabel Marant

"Tribal Fringe" Pieces
$$$$

कच्छ रबारी

True Value · Kutch Rabari Embroidery

Uncredited
⟵ 23. Chemistry & MetallurgyAll casesNext category02. Textiles & Jewelry ⟶