Vir Das wants to wear “something Indian from home” for the Emmys this year, and we are all hearts for him

The year 2024 saw a lot of firsts for Indians—All We Imagine as Light became the first Indian film to win the Grand Prix award at Cannes, Manu Bhaker became the first Indian woman to win a medal in shooting at the Olympics, Zakir Hussain won three Grammy Awards all in one night, and Shakuntala Kulkarni collaborated with Dior for Paris Fashion Week. The list is long, and the latest on this list is Vir Das, who is set to be the first Indian celebrity to host the prestigious International Emmy Awards in November.

Naturally, this is a big deal for us. It ticks many boxes for Indian artists and talents. While we will have more eyes on India’s budding artists, thanks to Vir Das, the spotlight will also be shone on India’s budding designers. 

The actor-comedian recently took to his Instagram to call for Indian emerging designers—from fashion students to small homegrown brand owners—to create an outfit for him to wear on the big night. In his post, he expressed a desire to wear “something Indian from home” and is inviting emerging designers to showcase their work. He specified that the outfit should be either traditional Indian or Indo-Western, encouraging designers to submit their designs for consideration.

This gesture is definitely worth mentioning, as it truly champions local talent. And this isn't the first time he has done so. Back in 2022, for one of his stand-up shows, he specifically called out emerging designers—especially those who were not yet established—to style his outfit. He also set clear criteria for his designer, stating that he wanted either a student or someone creating something entirely new.

While talented Indian designers like Gaurav Gupta, Rahul Mishra, Manish Malhotra, and Tarun Tahiliani have certainly put the country on the global map, we collectively need to champion local talents who often get overlooked in the noise. What does this accomplish, you ask? It brings to fore some of the most beautiful works you have ever seen and gives recognition to the incredible skills some people possess. Remember what happened when Nancy Tyagi stitched her own outfit for Cannes this year? It went viral—and for all the right reasons. At first glance, many assumed her look was created by a well-known designer, but it turned out to be her own design. More celebs, stylists, and people from the industry vouching for budding talent can do a lot for the fashion industry—newer designs, younger talent, fresher perspectives, and more inclusivity. 

Lead image credits: Hardly Anonymous
 

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