Popular luxury clothing brand Zara is selling the humble lungi, mostly worn by men in many South Asian countries. But it’s the price that Zara is selling it for that has raised many eyebrows.
The branded lungi-style ‘flowing skirt’ comes with a price tag of £69.99 (A$ 122) in London and for USD 89.90 in the US.
The Zara garment which has draped detail in the front, slit detail at the hem and a zip fastening in the back is hidden along the seam bears an uncanny similarity to the lungi that is a popular choice for men in many countries where high temperature makes wearing trousers uncomfortable.
The lungi is particularly popular in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan, and unlike Zara’s skirt, it will only cost you $2-4 and it comes in many different colours in designs. The simple chequered drape is simply wrapped around the waist.
It’s also worn in Malaysia where it’s called pelikat and in Indonesia, it’s known as sarong.
The popularity of the good, old lungi can be gauged from the fact that there are songs in Bollywood movies dedicated to this humble attire.
As soon as the news about Zara launching the lungi-skirt, social media went abuzz with the news and the product’s comparison with the traditional Asian garment.
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