A champion of eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always celebrated India with its culturally rich ensembles. To show his commitment to eco-friendly fashion, Modi graced an exquisite Sadri jacket in chandan shade, custom made from 25-28 recycled PET bottles, at the G7 summit in Japan.
The Prime Minister was at his experimental best when it comes to supporting India and its rich cultural culture: sporting khadi Modi kurtas to celebrating traditional Indian dress. Here’s a look at some of the impressive ensembles he’s adorned over the years.
Be nice, rewind
After donning the sleeveless Sadri jacket in sea blue color during the Lok Sabha budget session in February 2023 which was donated to him by the Indian Oil Corporation, Prime Minister Modi confirms decision to wear it again in chandan color at the G7 summit its commitment to promoting environmentally friendly practices.
Designed by EcoLine, a clothing brand hailing from Tamil Nadu that makes clothing made from recycled PET bottle waste and organic cotton, the clothing serves as a powerful reminder to protect our planet and mitigate the effects of climate change. And if Prime Minister Narendra Modi supports the cause through his sartorial decisions, it helps get the message across.
“We are extremely pleased and honored that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is choosing to once again wear the Sadri jacket from EcoLine Clothing,” said Senthil Sankar, Managing Partner at EcoLine Clothing. “We are truly amazed and deeply grateful for his continued support. It is a testament to our shared vision to promote environmentally responsible practices and create a greener future. We remain committed to providing high quality, environmentally conscious products and we are inspired to continue to innovate and contribute to the cause of sustainability.”
Khadi for nation, khadi for fashion
PM Modi, an advocate for Make in India, has always been supportive and encouraging of the country’s fabrics, including Khadi. The Prime Minister regularly wears khadi in his travels around the world. According to a report on Narendra Modi’s official website, he has left no stone unturned in popularizing khadi and creating a mass movement in which everyone buys khadi products, especially on Gandhi Jayanti’s special day.
The prime minister is quoted on the official website saying, “When we buy khadi, we brighten up the lives of the thousands of weavers who toil day and night.”
The love Khadi has received from Prime Minister Modi, and to honor and celebrate India’s Fabric of Freedom, Khadi India presented a showcase dedicated to the fabric at Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI in March 2023. Inspired by the Prime Minister and how Khadi has become a symbol of sustainable fashion and ultimate luxury, Manoj Kumar, Chairman of KVIC, shared his thoughts during Fashion Week and said, “The Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji has come up with a popular slogan ‘Khadi for nation, Khadi for fashion, Khadi for transformation’ , and KVIC is working hard to realize this dream. More and more designers across the spectrum are looking at khadi through a new lens as it encourages them to create fashion that is relevant to the present and the future.”
Experimental Hero: The Modi Kurta
From colors to unique styling, Narendra Modi has turned his sartorial choices into a perfect mood board for statement dressing. Do you remember the much talked about interview with Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar where he mentions why he cuts off the sleeves of his signature kurtas?
Kurtas have played an integral role in Narendra Modi’s wardrobe. And the reason why the prime minister chooses to wear a half sleeve kurta is because he used to travel with a small luggage bag and the long sleeve kurtas take up a lot of space. So he cut them and made them into half sleeves.
When simplicity becomes style, it becomes a statement. On the official Narendra Modi website, the Prime Minister shared how the Modi Kurta was born. He said: “My work with the RSS and BJP meant not only excessive travelling, but precarious and punitive schedules. And being someone who always washes their own clothes, I realized that washing a kurta with full sleeves was more difficult and time consuming, so I decided to cut the kurtas into half sleeve pieces.
A symbol of culture
Be it the traditional headgear of the Naga warrior or the Garo hat in Shillong, Narendra Modi has always embraced every traditional Indian dress with open arms. Modi has worn many hats of culture during his travels in India and has worn every culture symbol with elan.
During his visit to Kochi, Kerala, in April 2023, Prime Minister Modi looked gentle in the customary attire of the state consisting of a white and gold kasavu mundu, shawl and kurta as he embarked on a procession on foot.
