Can Indian Streetwear Become a Global Force?

India is home to the world’s largest youth population, but the international perception of Indian streetwear has historically been narrow — or non-existent. Now, the tide is turning: consumers within and outside the country are paying attention to the growing number of homegrown Indian streetwear labels that bring forth an elevated vision rooted in community, craft and innovation.

“While we have more eyes on India than ever, Indians themselves are starting to understand their own worth,” say Mriga Kapadiya and Amrit Kumar, co-founders of cultural platform and women-led Indian brand NorBlack NorWhite (NBNW), which applied the centuries-old tie-dye technique of bandhani to Nike’s sporty silhouettes for a collaboration last summer. (Nike said the capsule introduced “new communities to colo