She wore a lehenga on the Paris metro — and went viral - video Dailymotion

Paris-based fashion creator Nivya Thattandi Manickam turned heads in a lehenga on the metro.

Transcript

00:00This woman went viral for wearing a lehenga on the Paris metro.

00:04Nivea Thatandi Manikam, a South Indian creator based in Paris working in fashion marketing,

00:09recently turned heads with her desi baddie look. She wore a bright orange lehenga with

00:13a sleeveless blouse featuring intricate zari work. She topped off the look with a mangtika,

00:18gold bangles, a detailed naath, a choker, layered necklaces and chic sunglasses,

00:23a style that's racked up over 1 million views online. While many praised her outfit,

00:27some couldn't resist trolling it as a Scandinavian moment.

00:31This refers to a controversial trend where the South Asian dupatta is rebranded by Western

00:35influencers as a new Scandinavian fashion item, sparking backlash for cultural appropriation.

00:41However, when we asked why she chose to wear a lehenga, Nivea said it's time we stop being the

00:45silent muse of global style and start taking up space. I want the world to truly value Indian

00:51fashion's legacy and artistry. She said the response she got ranged from surprise to selfies,

00:56yet she never felt uncomfortable, whether riding the metro or wandering through Paris' busiest

01:01tourist places. She told us that she was just 19 when she started restyling her mom's old

01:06sarees into modern outfits and didn't know back then that this small act would become

01:11the heartbeat of her creative journey. What's your take on Nivea's look? Tell us in the comments.