The Art Of Pairing

Hold on to both style and comfort. Here’s your 10-point expert-approved guide to navigate the confusing aspects of teaming up sneakers with ethnic Indian wear

- Simi Kuriakose

Sneaker drops get all of us going, and if you proceed to trace the history of the sneaker, you will realise why it is a perennial footwear style. Of course, one can’t discount the fact that these shoes owe its popularity to both functionality and comfort. From becoming the dependable choice of shoe silhouette for athletes to being touted as a sartorial identifier in the street movements of skateboarding and hip-hop, sneakers have been accepted as a cross-cultural accessory from as early as the 19th century. Such is its appeal that even luxury houses — on realising its potential — gave in to the demand, only to create high-end renditions of this coveted footwear. As of this year, the ever-growing sneaker segment amounts to US$66,348 million on a global scale, according to a Statista report. While the US still remains a major market for these shoes, India has seen a meteoric rise in the sneaker-driven subculture. In fact, some of us have made great strides by trying the unthinkable — teaming up a pair of sneakers effortlessly with ethnic Indian wear.

The ethnic Indian ensemble paired with sneakers is a sartorial combination tried and tested by Anand Ahuja, while under the spotlight, at his wedding reception in 2018. The fashion entrepreneur, who is also a sneakerhead, dared to successfully style a pair of Nike sneakers with a bandhgala. Designer Akshat Bansal of luxury label Bloni points out that everyone seems to be emulating this style post that big Indian wedding. That said, wearing a pair of sneakers with Indian outfits, though an interesting take for men, requires vestiary prowess, and is no cakewalk. Fashion experts help you with a few rules to pay heed to before perfectly fitting into a pair of sneakers with your ethnic wear.