New Delhi: When PM Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, not only was his style of governance in the news, but also his fashion statements. In fact the Western media had described him as the new face of Indian fashion. The number of times that PM Modi’s clothes have been discussed in the media, is unprecedented for any other Indian leader. If Nehru was famous for his jackets, and has an entire cloth piece named after him, read ‘Nehru jacket’, PM Modi has made turbans famous across the country, wearing them at every Independene Day and Republic Day function.
Here are some of the dresses PM Modi wore in the last 11 years, many of which soon became synonymous with the PM.
1. PM Modi’s kurtas
When PM Narendra Modi took oath as the PM of the country, his first foreign visit was to Bhutan. During this visit, diplomacy was not the only talking point, his attire too stole the limelight. While meeting the royals the PM was seen wearing a white khadi kurta with the traditional Nehru jacket. Even before he took oath as the PM, the political leader was known to have a huge collection of colourful half-sleeve kurtas and churidars.
2. PM wears Chola Dora on Kedarnath visit
PM Narendra Modi wore a dress called Chola Dora on a visit to Uttarakhand. The PM wore it while visiting the Kedarnath temple. The dress is manufactured by the handloom weavers of Himachal Pradesh. The dress thus also was a way of promoting the handloom industry of the hill state. The PM wore this dress in the year 2022. According to reports, the Chola Dora had been gifted to the PM by a woman while he was on a visit to Himachal Pradesh. The woman had reportedly woven the dress on her own.
The PM had reportedly promised the woman weaver that whenever he visits a cold place, he would wear the dress gifted by her. He fulfilled his promise at the first opportunity he got, in Kedarnath.
3. Headgears of PM Modi
If half-sleeve kurtas were PM Modi’s go-to for political events, the colourful turbans were preferred and reserved for national events. The PM has been seen sporting colourful turbans each time he appears at the ramparts of the Red Fort to unfurl the national flag. On his first Independence Day as PM, Modi donned a vibrant Rajasthani turban, showcasing the cultural heritage of the state. The very next year at the Republic Day function, as he sat besides President Barack Obama, the PM was seen wearing a peacock-styled turban, in colours of pink, green and orange colour.
For the Independence Day function that year (2015) the PM wore a yellow turban with multi-coloured criss-cross lines. This turban had a trail which went down to the PM’s ankles. In 2016, he wore a tie-and-dye turban which had shades of pink and yellow, celebrating the country’s Independence. In 2017, PM Modi took to wearing vibrant yellow turban at the Independence Day event, with traditional geometric patterns on it. In 2018, the PM chose a bright saffron turban with red patterns. This year once again the turban had a long trail.
In 2019, once again the saffron turban was back which had very fine embroidery. Next year, a saffron and cream coloured turban donned PM Modi’s head at the Independence Day event. In 2021, the PM once again wore a saffron turban with vibrant red-coloured patterns and a long trail which was pink in colour. In 2022 the PM’s turban and dress reflected the colours of the national flag. With a white kurta-pyjama and a blue coloured Nehru jacket, the PM wore a white turban adorned with orange and green stripes. In 2023, the PM once again wore a multi-coloured Rajasthani turban, which had bandhani print. For the latest Independence Day celebration of 2024, the PM chose a leheriya print turban with orange, green and yellow being the dominant colours.
Apart from traditional pagdis which are synonymous with Rajasthani attire, PM Modi also wore a “Halari Pagdi” gifted to him by the royal household of Jamnagar, Gujarat. This headgear had a vibrant red “bandhej” pattern and was adorned with yellow dots. He was seen wearing it at the Republic Day parade in 2021. Next year in 2022, the PM wore a traditional cap from Uttrakhand at the Republic Day.
4. Yoga Day attire in Chandigarh
Another event where the PM’s attire was distinctive was the Yoga Day event in Chandigarh in 2016. At the event held in the Capitol Complex of the city, the PM was seen dressed in white half sleeves T-shirt and matching track pants. He was also wearing sports shoes, which would help him perform Yoga asanas with ease. The PM was also wearing a white scarf which had Ikkat design (triangular patterns) at the edges.
5. Safari suits of PM Modi
If T-shirts were PM Modi’s go to for Yoga events, he was seen donning safari suits and hats while visiting national parks of the country. The PM was seen in this attire on more than one occasion. One was when the PM chose to go on a “safari” at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka in April 2023. The visit marked 50 years of “Project Tiger” in the country.
His jungle attire and sunglasses were once again seen during his visit to Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam in March 2024. This was his first visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the time, apart from his safari suit, a fatigue jacket, a hat and a woolen scarf completed the PM’s look.
6. Mongolian Robe of PM Modi
PM Narendra Modi, while on a visit to Mongolia, surprised many by wearing the traditional dress of the country. The Indian leader was seen donning white coloured flowing Mongolia robe while visiting the country’s capital Ulan Bator. The visit of the PM happened in 2015. He was also the first Indian PM to visit that country.
7. Naga warrior headgear in 2014
While on campaign trail PM Modi often tries to connect with locals of the state. On one such occasion while campaigning for the Lok Sabha Elections 2014, the PM wore a Naga hat. Not only that he was also seen sporting a Naga warrior headgear at the Hornbill festival in 2014.
8. Jacket made of recycled material
PM Modi through his clothing not only makes a style statement, but also sends out strong messages. One such occasion was when he wore a blue-coloured jacket made of recycled material. The piece of clothing was reportedly made of material made of recycled plastic bottles used in Parliament.
9. Saffron Kurta in Nepal
During one of his early days as PM, Modi was seen dressed in saffron kurta and donned a saffron and red-coloured shawl, during a visit to Nepal’s famous Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu in 2014. The look was completed with a Rudraksh Mala.The entire look was categorised as bold by fashion pundits. The look was also meant to connect with the Indian diaspora in the country and the largely Hindu local population that occupies Nepal.
10. Suits in foreign land
The fact that PM Modi’s style statement is bold, becomes abundantly clear when one sees his choice of colours even in formal wear. The PM chose a whine-coloured suit when he deplaned at the JFK Airport in New York, US in September, 2014. At the time many fashion outlets labeled the choice of clothing as cool and said that PM Modi made the bandhgala effortlessly timeless.
Another time when the suit worn by the PM made news was during his visit to Germany. Here the PM was seen wearing a black suit, while visiting the industrial trade fair in Hanover, accompanied by then German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
11. PM Modi in Army uniform
PM Narendra Modi also makes news for his visit to soldiers on the occasion of Diwali. The leader has been celebrating the festival of Diwali with the country’s Armymen, ever since he came to power in 2014. Each time he visits the post, the PM is seen dressed in Army uniform. Experts believe that the dress is meant to identify with the jawans and also send out a message of nationalism to the Indian people.
So PM Modi’s attire has for long been in the news now. This is his way of striking a chord with the people, his voters. His dress is often meant to send out a strong message to the Indian people, and strikes an emotional chord with them.
