Written by Drishtee Johar
Alright, let’s talk about something that’s been frustrating me lately (actually, frustrating me for a while now) – the blatant colonization of our beautiful South Asian jewelry by the west. Yep, I’m talking about how our intricate, culturally rich pieces are being swiped, stripped of their meaning, and paraded around as the latest "boho-chic" trend. Seriously, where in the shit-fuck did we go wrong?
Worst thing is, we were so fucking accepting of the whole ‘wearing indo-western clothing’ in the beginning. Finally, after literal centuries of being ignored and having our ways called ‘dirty’ and ‘uncivilized’, our clothes, our jewelry, literally pieces of our soul that we adorn ourselves with are out there in the world, showing people what South-Asian beauty is about! But now, it’s nothing more than something companies can get a bigger profit margin out of, just because it’s fucking ‘hippie’ or ‘bohemian’ and anything else their unoriginal minds can come up with.
Take jhumke, for instance. Those stunning, intricate earrings that our grandmothers have passed down to us, the ones that hold so much history and culture, are now being called "bohemian chandelier earrings." Bohemian? Seriously? These aren’t just pretty little baubles you pick up at Coachella. They have roots, they have stories, and they carry the weight of our heritage. But nope, slap a new name on them, sell them at Urban Outfitters, and suddenly they’re the hot new thing.
Here’s the kicker: the so-called “bohemian” style that everyone’s obsessed with? It actually has roots in the Romani people, who share a history that’s all tangled up with South Asia. So, not only is this trend swiping from us, but it’s also ripping off another marginalized community. But of course, in true western fashion, they’ve managed to strip both cultures of their identities, mash them together, and churn out some watered-down, trend-driven crap that completely misses the point.
And let’s not even get started on nose piercings. For us, a nose ring isn’t just a piece of jewelry. It’s a symbol of our identity, our femininity, and even our marital status. But here we are, seeing them being worn as just another accessory, stripped of all their cultural significance. It’s like watching a part of yourself being commodified and sold for $19.99. And the absolute worst bit? There’s zero acknowledgment of where these trends come from. It’s not just cultural appropriation; it’s cultural erasure.
The western world has this nasty habit of taking what isn’t theirs, rebranding it, and acting like they invented it. And while they’re busy making a mockery of our traditions, the South Asian diaspora is left to watch in frustration. Our jewelry, our symbols, our identity – all turned into a bloody fashion statement without a single nod to their origins.
And it's not just about jewelry. It comes down to our very being, our bodies as well. Look at the cute photos of young desi girls wearing braids with red ribbons to school. Traditional hairstyles that have been part of our culture for centuries are now being paraded around as “festival braids” or “boxer braids.” Newsflash: these braids have a rich cultural history, and they’re not just a cute new way to style your hair for a music festival. They’re part of our identity, our heritage. But once again, they’re being appropriated without any recognition of where they come from or what they mean.
And the actual rage that fills my body everytime I see a child getting bullied for having no makeup and oil in their hair while a white influencer is praised for their ‘clean girl look’ is not healthy for me and those in a 100 meter radius. It really isn’t cute. You can’t take part of who we are while simultaneously shaming us for following our traditions.
This isn’t just about jewelry or hairstyles. It precedes every physical, tangible thing that represents us. It’s about respect. It’s about understanding and acknowledging the depth and richness of our culture, rather than reducing it to a fleeting trend. It’s high time we called out this bullshit and reclaimed our heritage. Our jhumke are not “bohemian chandelier earrings.” They’re a piece of who we are. Our nose piercings? They’re more than just adornment – they’re a part of our soul. And our braids? They’re a symbol of our history and identity, not just a festival trend. We don’t mind the world using and adapting our culture - if anything, we encourage it - but give credit where credit is due.
So, next time you see someone rocking “boho-chic” earrings, a nose ring, or “festival braids,” remember the roots. Remember the culture. Our traditions deserve respect, not rebranding.
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