Sandhya Garg — Heritage Edit
My Desi Heritage:
How Growing Up in India Shaped My Designs
By Sandhya Garg · Project Runway Designer · XS–3XL Collections · Updated October 2026
Colour, craft and celebration: the things I brought with me from India, and still design with every day.
Quick Answer: What Does Desi Mean?
Desi describes people, culture and things from the Indian subcontinent — South Asia — and its global diaspora. The word comes from the Sanskrit desh, meaning "land" or "country," so desi literally means "from the homeland." It covers India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, among others, and it's used with warmth and pride by South Asians around the world. Desi is South Asian, not Southeast Asian.
Hello, and welcome. I'm Sandhya Garg. I grew up in India — mostly in the north, with a few years of college in Bangalore, in the southern state of Karnataka — and I've since lived in the UK and the United States. I'm what everyone lovingly calls a desi woman, and I wouldn't trade those growing-up years for anything. My husband grew up in India too, and between us we have nothing but joyful memories of it.
I first wrote this post to share how much more India is than the picture many people carry around. A film like Slumdog Millionaire is fine storytelling, but it isn't India. Having lived on three continents and travelled widely, I can tell you that India is love, culture and endless warmth: people who help without expecting anything back, and a way of life built around humility and celebrating every day. That spirit runs through everything I design as a Project Runway designer, in sizes XS through 3XL.
This updated guide explains what desi really means, the pillars of desi culture, how South Asian style has moved to the centre of global fashion — Vogue's 2026 coverage describes South Asian representation as no longer confined to the margins (The Express Tribune) — and twelve pieces from our newest collection, Let Them Eat Cake, that carry a desi love of colour and handwork. With Diwali on November 8, 2026, it's the perfect season for it.
In This Guide
- What does desi mean? The definition, explained
- 5 pillars of desi culture
- Desi style on the global fashion stage
- 10 style lessons my desi heritage taught me
- Shop: 12 pieces with a desi love of colour
- What to wear: Diwali, weddings & festivals
- My India: the places behind my prints
- FAQ: desi culture & fashion answered
What Does Desi Mean? The Definition, Explained
Origin
From the Sanskrit “desh”
Desh means land, country or homeland. Desi, then, means “of the homeland” — a word that carries belonging as much as geography.
Who is desi
South Asia & its diaspora
Desi refers to people and culture from the Indian subcontinent — India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and neighbouring countries — and to the millions of South Asians living around the world.
Common mix-up
South Asian, not Southeast Asian
Southeast Asia means countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. Desi is specifically South Asian. (An earlier version of this post got that wrong — consider this my correction.)
Desi today
An identity worn with pride
Desi food, desi music, desi weddings, a desi girl: the word now describes a shared, joyful culture that crosses borders, generations and passports.
5 Pillars of Desi Culture
Indian and South Asian culture is diverse, complex and thousands of years old. India alone has 28 states and 8 union territories, each with its own languages, food and customs. Invasions, trade and migration over centuries mixed many cultures and faiths, and that mingling created some of the world's most beautiful architecture, the most deliciously complex food, and traditions unlike anywhere else. Here are five things that matter most.
🙏 Faith & Diversity
Many religions, one shared culture
Hinduism is India's largest religion, followed by roughly four in five people, alongside large Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain communities. Faith shapes daily life, festivals and dress.
👨👩👧 Family First
The cornerstone of desi life
Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins are part of everyday life and raising children. Families often play a big role in marriage, too — something I wrote about in my Indian wedding.
🍛 Food
Every region, a different cuisine
Spice, aroma and an extraordinary range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. If you love spice, you already love desi food — Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and more. Best eaten with your hands.
🪔 Festivals
Celebration, all year round
Diwali, Holi, Durga Puja, Eid and many more, with feasting, family and new clothes. Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, November 8 (Government of India tourism listing, via Outside).
🥻 Clothing
Colour, drape & embroidery
Saris, lehengas and salwar kameez for women; kurtas and dhotis for men. Indian dress is defined by vivid colour, intricate embroidery and drape. Read my love letter to the sari.
Where East meets West: the idea behind Indian fusion fashion.
Desi Style on the Global Fashion Stage
When I studied at London College of Fashion, South Asian craft was everywhere in luxury fashion — but South Asian names rarely were. That has changed fast.
📰 Out of the Margins
Reported via Vogue
Coverage of Vogue's 2026 South Asian features by The Express Tribune described South Asian representation in fashion as no longer confined to the margins, spanning couture, cinema, celebrity and emerging designers like Manish Malhotra and Dhruv Kapoor.
✨ Craft Without Costume
Reported via Vogue
The same report noted a new generation placing local craft and heritage into silhouettes for a global audience — heritage worn as modern luxury, not as costume or nostalgia.
🌏 The New Vanguard
Reported by Harper's Bazaar India
Harper’s Bazaar India profiled South Asian creatives moving beyond tokenism to define a future-forward culture rooted in tradition.
🗽 Designers Who Kept Ties Home
Reported by The Business of Fashion
The Business of Fashion documented first-generation South Asian designers in America who build their brands by staying closely connected to craft and makers back home.
Even the grandest houses have turned towards India: Dior staged a landmark show at Mumbai's Gateway of India in 2023. For a desi designer working in the US, it's an exciting time — the colour and craft I grew up with are finally being recognised as luxury in their own right.
Heritage, reworked: a saree dress and the Taj kaftan from our Indian fusion edit.
10 Style Lessons My Desi Heritage Taught Me
01
Colour is joy
Where I grew up, colour wasn't risky — it was everyday. Marigold, fuchsia, peacock blue. Wearing colour is a mood decision, and it's almost always the right one.
02
More really can be more
Print on print, stacked bangles, embroidery on embroidery. Desi dressing taught me maximalism isn't chaos; it's confidence with a plan.
03
Handwork is the luxury
The real value in a garment is the hours of skill in it. A hand-embroidered piece will outlast a dozen trend buys.
04
Dress for the celebration
Festivals, weddings, a family dinner — every occasion deserves something new or special. Getting dressed is part of the celebration.
05
Drape beats cling
Saris and lehengas flatter every body because they move and drape. That's why my dresses favour flowing silhouettes and fabrics that skim.
06
Jewelry is part of the outfit
Gold earrings, bangles, a statement necklace — in desi style, accessories aren't an afterthought. Pick one heavy piece and let it shine.
07
Mix heritage with now
Indian fusion — a kurta with jeans, a saree-inspired dress with sneakers — is how my generation wears its culture. Tradition and modern can share one outfit.
08
Re-wear and pass it down
In India, beautiful clothes become heirlooms. Buy pieces worth keeping, care for them, and wear them for years.
09
Dress for the people around you
Desi culture is about family and community. Dressing well is also a way of honouring the people and the occasion you're celebrating.
10
Wear it with warmth
The most beautiful thing about desi culture is its warmth. Wear your clothes the same way — generously, joyfully, and with a smile.
Every print starts as a drawing in my studio. Read more in Behind the Prints.
Let Them Eat Cake · Limited Edition · XS to 3XL
A Desi Love of Colour. Shop the Collection.
Our newest collection takes its prints from Versailles — but the jewel tones, the embroidery and the more-is-more spirit are pure desi. Twelve pieces for festivals, weddings and every celebration in between.
Festive & Diwali-Ready Maxis
Colours of Home: Pink, Red & Jewel Tones
Handwork & Layers
Dresses in XS · S · M · L · XL · XXL · XXXL · Original prints designed in LA · Size chart
What to Wear: Diwali, Weddings & Festivals
🪔 Diwali Party
Rich jewel tones, gold jewelry and something with shimmer or embroidery. The Marquis maxi or a red print like Duchess is festive without needing a full lehenga. Shop the Diwali edit.
💃 Mehndi & Sangeet
Colour, movement and comfort for dancing. Greens and yellows suit mehndi; anything bright and swingy suits sangeet. Try Antonia or Carolina.
💍 Indian Wedding Guest
Go bold — Indian weddings welcome colour — but skip head-to-toe white or black, and check whether the bride's family prefers traditional dress. My guide covers what to wear to every Indian wedding event.
🌸 Holi & Spring Festivals
For Holi itself, wear white or old clothes you don't mind covering in colour. For spring celebrations around it, pastels and florals like the Marie mini are perfect.
My India: The Places Behind My Prints
If you've never been to India, put it on your travel list. Some of my favourite collections began there: the pink city of Jaipur inspired our Jaipur collection, the palace at Samode became the Samode collection, the Taj Mahal gave us Truly Taj: Postcards From India, and the tribal Gond art of central India shaped our Gond collection.
From Rajasthan to the runway: the Jaipur collection and the Samode mood board.
Shop Heritage-Inspired Collections
Frequently Asked Questions
What does desi mean?
Desi describes people, culture and things from the Indian subcontinent (South Asia) and its diaspora. It comes from the Sanskrit word desh, meaning land or homeland, so desi means "from the homeland." It is used with pride by South Asians around the world.
Is desi South Asian or Southeast Asian?
Desi is South Asian. It refers to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and neighbouring countries, not Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam or Indonesia.
When is Diwali 2026?
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026. It is part of a five-day festival of lights celebrated by Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities worldwide.
What should I wear to a Diwali party?
Wear rich jewel tones or festive reds, pinks and golds, ideally with embroidery, shimmer or a bold print, and add gold jewelry. Traditional Indian dress is welcome, and an elegant printed or embroidered maxi dress works beautifully too.
What is Indian fusion fashion?
Indian fusion fashion blends traditional Indian elements — prints, embroidery, drapes and silhouettes like the kurta or sari — with Western pieces and shapes, such as a saree-inspired dress or an embroidered jacket worn with jeans.
Can I wear Indian-inspired clothing if I'm not South Asian?
Yes, when it's worn with respect. Indian hosts generally love seeing guests embrace colour and traditional dress at weddings and festivals. Learn what a piece means, buy from designers and artisans who honour the craft, and avoid treating religious symbols as costume.
Sources & Further Reading
- The Express Tribune: The new face of South Asian representation at Vogue
- Harper's Bazaar India: How South Asian creatives are taking the global stage
- The Business of Fashion: South Asian designers with strong ties to home make their mark in America
- Diwali 2026 date (Government of India tourism listing, via Outside)
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- Indian Fusion Fashion: Where Eastern Heritage Meets Western Style
- What to Wear to an Indian Wedding, Event by Event
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- Behind the Prints: Where the Designs Actually Come From
- Dopamine Dressing: The Science of Wearing Colour for Joy
- Project Runway, From the Inside: My Season 13 Story
- About Sandhya Garg — Project Runway Designer
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