Fashion writer
Indian singer Diljit Dosanjh made his Met Gala debut last month, leaving a lasting impression on global fashion.
The 41-year-old singer is the only Punjabi musician to perform in Coachella, wearing a red carpet and a grand duke of the early 20th century.
His rich ivory and gold ensemble, created by designer Prabal Gurung - equipped with a feathered cowhide headscarf, aired for weeks in India.
He also wore a gorgeous diamond necklace, designed by Cartier worn by a former king in Punjab, North India.
The Panthère de Cartier watch, the head of a lion and a jewel sword complete the ensemble, the band's map contains the hometown of Dosanjh, embroidered behind Cape Town, and letters from Gurmukhi, as well as scripts in Punjabi.
Of course, Dosanjh is no stranger to this style.
Like his music, he also carved out a stylish niche - hip-hop singer, known for his traditional Punjabi style that blends Western influences.
Often seen in reverse-fitting pants, chunky sneakers and his necklaces that match his colorful headscarf, his unique form of self-expression attracted millions of imaginations, thus causing an interesting reshaping in the traditional Punjabi outfit.
Change can be felt everywhere. Without high-performance sneakers, a 16-minute high-intensity Bhangra race in California would be impossible. Bhangra nights in Berlin's basement are enjoyed on crop tops and deconstructed pants.
Punjabi music itself, volume and energy--the lyrics carry the names of urban and global luxury brands--has become a subculture.
It's not just Dosanjh, but several other Punjabi musicians have also influenced the style of the region.
Not long ago, Punjabi-Canadian singer Jazzy B's ring, usually the size of a cookie, as well as his large size Kanda Pendant and Silver Blonde Hair Tints.
Recently, singer Badshah has worn yellow tinted glasses; loose hoodies worn by you yo honey Singh; AP Dhillon's Louis Vuitton bomber and Chanel watch are very popular among Punjab youth.
However, even if their impact is large, it is limited to only one region. But Dosanjh and a few others like him have managed to install it globally, with their style talking to Sikh diaspora and a wider audience. For example, last year’s T-shirts, pearls and sneakers Dosanjh wore them on his world tour and sold out in a few hours. During Paris Fashion Week, Dahron's style statements made Punjabi youth desire.
Cultural experts say that this reshaping originated in Western pop culture, whether it is music or fashion, because most artists live and perform in the West.
"Punjabi are creative. The region has always been at the forefront of integration, and it believes in hybrids. Especially the case of Punjabi diaspora - even if they live in slums, they are (their lives)," said Alka Alka Alka Alka Pande, an art historian, writer and museum curator.
Over the years, as the Punjabi diaspora community develops, a new generation of musicians has begun to combine modern hip-hop sounds with traditional Punjabi aesthetic elements.
Their unique dictionary – gold chains, faux fur jackets, large size accessories, braids and beards – continues to introduce media articles, books and doctoral dissertations about South Asian culture.
The coin immediately landed at home in Punjab and when the luxury brand arrived in the 2000s it absorbed the logo fashion like a sponge. For the Punjabi, it was primarily an agricultural community – an ideal uprising symbolizing the appearance of success and prosperity.
"It symbolizes the movement of Punjabi people from farmers to global consumers," said Rabbi Shergill, a famous singer.
Shergill believes that like everyone else, performers are the product of their time, and they say these impulses are “a response to the high capitalist world.”
Strangely, the style games of Punjabi musicians – from hip-hop, R&B, Bhangra Pop, Fusion, Fusion, Punjabi Rap, Reggae or Filmy Music – have also been rooted and hermaphrodite, not super-male.
Pop stars may wear luxury works by Balenciaga or Indian designer Manish Malhotra. Show anywhere from Ludhiana City to London; dance around Burj Khalifa in Dubai with Beyonce, in luxury cars or in British mansions - but they always wear Punjabi identity on their sleeves.
Dosanjh clearly emphasized this by watching the grand event at the Metropolitan area with Maharajah. "It's like his androgynous style is waiting to happen," Pande said.
Today, Punjab cannot be missed, and the combined impact of this trend on emerging artists is not to be missed.
For example, local Bhangra performances are no longer limited to the traditional “Dhoti-Kurta-Koti” costume set paired with Juttis (race footwear). Now, performance dressing includes sneakers, printed T-shirts, bottom deconstruction and even denim.
"These items are sought after by customers," said Harinder Singh, owner of the 1469 brand.
The items in the Singh store include accessories promoted by Punjab music stars, such as the version of Phulkari Turbans by Dosanjh, which Kanda Pendants was first promoted by veteran Bhangra artist Pammi Bai. Singh himself has more than 100 shaded headscarves.
Even the overall men's style in Punjab comes with some international twang.
Gurpreet Saini, a young poet who performed at cultural festivals across India, said he excerpted his shawl from his hometown of Hariana in Punjab - a letter printed with ombre gurmukhi, with a unique look. He acknowledges the influence of musical idols, including those like folk singer Gurdas Mann, who grew up watching.
In some cases, initially personal talent continues to be a fashion statement. Now these choices are cultural signatures. They reshaped the Punjabi identity through rhythms, hybrids, and deep-rooted self-awareness.
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