India, Sept. 27 -- The Rs 8 lakh handbag has revived an old debate around who gets to own India's craft stories.

Old familiarities often arrive in unfamiliar places. A handcrafted object from an Indian marketplace can suddenly appear under the spotlight of a global luxury house, transformed from a community tradition into a coveted fashion statement. The latest conversation around Fendi's Baguette 26424 Multicolour Re-Edition - popularly dubbed the "Navratri bag" on social media - a creation featuring vibrant embroidery, beads and mirror-like embellishments and priced at around Rs.8.3 lakh, has once again brought India's relationship with global luxury into focus. It is important to make a distinction at the outset. Fendi itself does not...