Veteran Indian fashion designer Ritu Kumar is facing severe backlash online after claiming she invented the generic term “zardozi” for an exhibition in the 1980s. Appearing on The Masoom Minawala Show, Kumar claimed the word did not exist before she combined the Persian elements “zar” and “dozi,” prompting immediate criticism from social media users.
During the episode, the designer remarked: “The word zardozi was not there. I did an exhibition, didn’t know what to call it. Zar is the name from Iran and dozi, I stuck with it, and we put zardozi. Now today it’s become a generic term.”
The interviewer responded with: “Oh, really?” to which Kumar added: “For that exhibition in the 80s.” The host then remarked: “And then it just took off.”
Netizens immediately took to the comment section to point out that the claim was deeply incorrect, with one remarking: “Nani’s, Dadi’s and generations before them are all collectively confused right now, lol.”
Another user provided a historical breakdown, noting: “Zardozi is one of the world’s oldest and most luxurious embroidery techniques. The word comes from the Persian words “zar” (gold) and “dozi” (embroidery or stitching), literally meaning “gold embroidery.”…Persian Origins (around 1,500–2,500 years ago).”
Critics expressed concern over high-profile designers distributing made-up stories, with one netizen remarking: “Big designers like herself giving out made up stories not being aware about what impact it will have on the industry. One should not bend the textile history just for their timely fame.”
Other reactions traced the term back to the 14th century Delhi Sultanate, with a netizen remarking: “Absolute rubbish! Don’t peddle misinformation. The word ‘zardozi’ was coined by the Delhi Sultanate ruler Firoz Shah Tughlaq during the 14th century. Is she 500 years old?”
Another history enthusiast noted: “Zardozi appears in several Persian texts from the rule of the sultanate since the 14th century and repeatedly referred to in Jobson’s tome on Indian textiles from the 18th century.”
The brazeness of the statement left many online commentators stunned, with a netizen remarking: “The audacity! Thankfully some of us still know history and have a brain.”
The podcast host also faced direct scrutiny for failing to research and fact-check the claim before promoting the episode, as a viewer noted: “She definitely did not invent this word. Please research before promoting such things. I am a big fan of your podcast Masoom but I was shocked when you without proper research posted it.”
Mocking the claim, another user noted: “We’re so Delulu or possibly reincarnated, the art of Zardozi originated in Persia and was brought to India via Central Asia in the 12th century. It flourished under the Mughal rule (courtesy: Google search)…”
Another comment summed up the online disappointment noting: “Zardozi- goodbye you never existed from times immemorial Ritu Kumar zar dozi- 1980s onwards COINED by her. What happens to these icons? Plagiarism, self-promotion, these are things beneath them why do they feel the need?”
