Ralph Lauren ‘jhumka’ earrings spark viral cultural appropriation debate after Paris Fashion Week show

The world of fashion has been set abuzz with new collections and sparkling creations as the time of fashion weeks rolls out. Recently, popular designer label Ralph Lauren presented its Fall 2026 women's collection at the Paris Fashion Week.As much as the outfits grabbed attention, what truly had viewers zooming in were the accessories.Along with long jackets, trendy boots, and stylish pants, the models donned long silver dangling earrings on their ears.Videos and photos of the show quickly went viral on social media, with numerous users accusing the brand of appropriating Indian culture by using the Indian jewellery called 'jhumka' in their collection without attributing proper credit to the country or its culture.

Social media backlash

Juggernaut founder and CEO Snigdha Sur took to X to call out the brand for 'monetising, rebranding and selling' Indian fashion for 'big bucks'. Others on the internet were also quick to call out the brand for using Indian jewellery as inspiration without proper credit."Are they calling it the Scandinavian chandeliers yet?" wrote one user. "No this is actually pissing me off all Western designers do is steal," claimed another.

"Ralph Lauren doing jhumkas while not mentioning its cultural heritage is peak whitewashing. This is why I don't get the 'oh it's not that deep' people. It is that deep when the West steals cultural pieces from the global south and east and tries to rebrand as its own," added another.While the world might be going on about another cultural appropriation by a Western designer, as per the brand the jewellery pieces are "crafted by Native American designers Neil Zarama, Jimmy Begay, and TÓPA as part of Ralph Lauren’s Authentic Makers and Artist in Residence programs."

Not the first controversy

Not only Polo Ralph Lauren, but other Western brands and designers have been piggybacking on Indian cultural objects. Sophie Buhai, a jeweller based in LA recently went viral for her $850 'Nadia' earrings that as per the website, were inspired by 'traditional Indian artistry' yet failed to give credit to any Indian artists if involved in the process. Interestingly, this is not the first time an object from Indian culture has been appropriated in Western fashion. Previously, Prada launched T-strap sandals resembling the Indian Kolhapuri chappals and it was only after massive backlash that the brand admitted that the designs had been 'inspired by Kolhapuri footwear.'Dior also joined the league in July 2025 with its $200K ivory and gold houndstooth coat featuring traditional Indian mukaish embroidery from Lucknow. The brand failed to credit the 12 Indian artists who spent a whopping 34 days creating the piece, thus leading to heavy backlash.

The history of the jhumka

With their distinctive bell-shaped design, the jhumka is one of the most coveted earrings with a history dating back to 300 BCE.Their origins can be traced back to the statues in the ancient temples of the Chola Dynasty, signifying the grace of the dance form Bharatnatyam.They have been a vital part of traditional and bridal jewellery across cultures in the Indian subcontinent. Because of this long cultural heritage, their use in Western fashion has once again sparked debate about cultural borrowing without acknowledgement.