Ralph Lauren faces backlash over ‘Jhumka’ earrings at Paris Fashion Week

A pair of statement earrings on a Paris runway has ignited a conversation about fashion, culture and credit. When Ralph Lauren unveiled its Fall 2026 collection at the Paris Fashion Week, viewers quickly noticed a familiar design among the accessories. A large bell-shaped earring that many recognised as jhumkas, a jewellery long associated with Indian tradition.

The brand’s runway imagery included a caption crediting the creators behind several accessories. The caption noted that the Fall 2026 looks featured authentic vintage accessories and select designs by Native American artists Neil Zarama, Jimmy Begay and TÓPA, as part of Ralph Lauren’s Authentic Makers and Artist in Residence programmes.

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However, the discussion online focused on whether the earrings’ resemblance to traditional jhumkas should have been recognised more directly.

While cross-cultural inspiration is nothing new in the fashion world, the resemblance to the traditional bell-shaped design led some viewers to question whether the origins of the style had been adequately acknowledged.

Jhumkas are among the most recognisable jewellery designs from the Indian subcontinent. Jhumkas originated in ancient India, specifically during the Chola Dynasty of South India around the 3rd century BCE. The bell-shaped earrings appear in classical dance costumes and traditional jewellery collections across India, and continue to be widely worn in contemporary fashion as well. Their distinctive form has travelled across generations, making them both a cultural symbol and a widely loved accessory.

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The episode echoes previous debates within fashion. Last year, Prada faced criticism after presenting leather sandals at Milan Fashion Week that closely resembled Kolhapuri chappals, the traditional handcrafted footwear from Maharashtra. Following criticism, Prada later acknowledged that its design had drawn inspiration from the traditional Indian footwear.

The runway images quickly triggered a wave of reactions online, where many users commented on the resemblance between the earrings and the traditional Indian design. One comment read, “That’s literally a jhumka, we’ve been wearing these for generations.” Another user wrote, “When a design that’s common in Indian jewellery suddenly shows up on a luxury runway, people are bound to notice.” A third comment added, “Jhumkas are everywhere in India -interesting to see the same silhouette in a Paris collection.”

A user noted, “The classic jhumka (picture 3) is one of the Indian indigenous earring designs being worn by Indian women for more than a millennium. Rebranding stuff and calling it western detailing needs to stop!!!” Another said, “Wow another brand using indian culture and calling their own creation.”

The comments illustrate how audiences today are increasingly attentive to the origins of design elements appearing in global fashion collections, particularly when those designs carry strong cultural associations.