A man modeled a Burberry umbrella in Vogue that costs about $200. Some 456 million Indians live on less than $1.25 a day.

From The Times:

"Vogue India's August issue presented a 16-page vision of supple handbags, bejeweled clutches and status-symbol umbrellas, modeled not by runway stars or the wealthiest fraction of Indian society who can actually afford these accessories, but by average Indian people.

Vogue India editor Priya Tanna's message to critics of the August shoot: 'Lighten up,' she said in a telephone interview. Vogue is about realizing the 'power of fashion' she said, and the shoot was saying that "fashion is no longer a rich man's privilege. Anyone can carry it off and make it look beautiful," she said.

'You have to remember with fashion, you can't take it that seriously,' Ms. Tanna said. "We weren't trying to make a political statement or save the world," she said."

In Vogue India magazine, a child from a poor family modeled a Fendi bib, which costs about $100.

"The editorial spread was 'not just tacky but downright distasteful' said Kanika Gahlaut, a columnist for the daily newspaper Mail Today that is based here, who denounced it as an 'example of vulgarity.' "

Read the whole article here.


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