NorBlackNorWhite x Nike: Indian handlooms lead the global fashion arena

India's homegrown textiles are making powerful strides on the global fashion stage, no longer seen as just traditional but as bold statements of culture, sustainability and style. Two landmark fashion moments in 2025, Nike's collaboration with ‘NorBlackNorWhite’ and Vivienne Westwood’s maiden India showcase have solidified India’s position at the heart of international design conversations.

Nike x NorBlackNorWhite: A celebration of Indian prints

In a landmark move, Nike partnered with Indian streetwear brand ‘NorBlackNorWhite’ to launch a capsule collection that reimagines performance wear through an Indian lens. The designs burst with vibrant colors, rooted in indigenous techniques like Bandhani and tie-dye. This collaboration wasn’t just about fashion; it was about storytelling. The collection celebrates cultural identity, movement, and self-expression, blending sportswear with traditional textile artistry. With global influencers and athletes sporting the line, it catapulted Indian prints into the international streetwear spotlight.

Vivienne Westwood’s Indian showcase: Luxury meets heritage

Earlier this year, British luxury house Vivienne Westwood chose the Gateway of India in Mumbai as the grand venue for its first-ever showcase in India. The event presented a Spring-Summer 2025 capsule collection comprising 20–25 bespoke garments crafted from Indian handlooms. This included khadi, chanderi, muslin, muga silk, pashmina wool, and black cotton; each fabric steeped in centuries of craftsmanship.

The garments were not just a nod to sustainability but an elegant reinterpretation of slow fashion. The show’s creative direction, deeply respectful of Indian heritage, used these textiles to create contemporary silhouettes, proving that traditional fabrics can effortlessly fit into global luxury narratives. Vivienne Westwood's choice to focus on these materials highlighted the increasing value Western designers are placing on Indian artisanal techniques and eco-conscious fashion.

Indian textiles: At the core of fashion’s future

These high-profile moments underline a growing global appetite for authenticity, craftsmanship and sustainability areas where Indian textiles excel. No longer relegated to ‘ethnic’ or ‘exotic’ tags, fabrics like khadi and chanderi are now shaping collections in Paris, London, and New York.

From handlooms to haute couture, India’s textile legacy is experiencing a renaissance. As more global brands tap into the beauty and versatility of Indian fabrics, it’s clear that the loom is no longer just a symbol of heritage, it’s fashion’s future.