Republic Day: PM Modi’s turban makes sartorial news, yet again

While the fog took the visibility level down to an all-time low, with even TV screens appearing to be smoked-out, a hint of colour popped out from the crowd as India celebrated its Republic Day. And, we have our Prime Minister to thank for it.

While the Delhi chill has kept the half-sleeved Modi kurta out of sight, the turban clearly continues to be a favourite with our PM.

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Dressed in a toffee-tan bandhgala suit paired with a saffron turban (reminiscent of his maiden Independence Day speech) and finished with a silken pocket square, Narendra Modi stood out yet again for his sartorial choice at Rajpath.

“His attire was very occasion-perfect. The long end of the turban, which extended at the back, reflected on the symbolic message of the entire ensemble very clearly. It was primarily to celebrate the feeling of national pride on such a special day. I personally loved the choice of colour and the ‘Make in India, with pride’ philosophy attached to his choice of outfit,” says Sunil Sethi, president, Fashion Design Council of India.

Designer Rina Dhaka feels that amid the sea of monochromes, Modi’s attire made an impact. “The turban was a lovely choice. It not only lent him height and a statuesque form, but the saffron (colour) also added a bit of elegance. There was no way one could miss him even on such a chilly dismal day in a crowd of greys. His fashion sure beats the French!”

Designer Nida Mahmood also gives Modi’s R-Day look a thumbs up. “Apart from the colour combination, the length of the jacket is what added an edge to the look. I also love how the pocket square balances out the colours, besides the burst of yellow in the turban.”

Read: I don’t have a fashion designer, I dress simple, says PM Modi

For designer Anand Bhushan, the turban seems like a form of social commentary. “Modi has always remained true to his Indian aesthetics and his Made in India sensibility. The choice is a great social commentary for the international community too, and a reminder that there are people of different backgrounds and cultures who can coexist peacefully.”

Prime ministerial fashion that made news

* The eponymous Modi kurta: Half-sleeved, easy-fit kurta that has been a long-standing favourite with our Prime Minister. Ahmedabad-based label Jade Blue, which gained instant popularity for being the PM’s go-to choice for apparels, even sells these trademark kurtas online.

*At the swearing-in ceremony: NaMo charged up the occasion with a light coloured, underplayed ensemble way back in 2014. Ditching his Modi kurta, he went for a full-sleeved version with a bandhgala jacket instead.

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*His first Independence Day speech (2014): The debut of the celebratory turban in tie-dye. Saw the return of the khadi Modi kurta.

*Second Independence Day speech (2015): The look sobered up a bit, but the turban trend continued in a Gujarati Mashru weave that the Twitterati hailed as ‘Burberry inspired’.