India, Sept. 14 -- A beaded dress from Ralph Lauren's Spring/Summer 2027 show at New York Fashion Week has sparked fresh debate in India, with designers and social media users saying its embroidery resembles aari and zardozi while the brand describes it only as "hand-applied embellishments". The criticism follows earlier rows over jhumka-like earrings labelled "vintage accessories" and a Bandhani-inspired skirt sold as a "print cotton wrap". Lucknow designer Prakhar Rao Singh Chandel points out that zardozi has been registered to Lucknow and six surrounding districts since 2013, with 1.75 lakh artisans working in the cluster. He wrote: "It is a place before it is a decoration. Name it when you use it." Designer Nachiket Barve says not necessarily. "This form of embellishment using glass beads has been done across cultures." But, he adds, "If an embroidery is specific to a culture or place, I feel it needs appropriate credit." Designer Gautam Gupta says acknowledgement need not be complicated: "At the very least, label it 'Made in India', 'Co-created in India,' or 'Hand-embroidered in India'." Textile revivalist Madhu Jain calls it "an old colonial trend", adding, "The West have always been 'inspired' by us. The difference now is that Indians are aware."...