Once confined to the mustard fields of Punjab and the wedding dance floors of desi households, Punjabi music—particularly its hip-hop avatar—has undergone a stunning transformation. It is no longer just about infectious dhol beats or turbocharged lyrics; it’s now a bold and unapologetic fashion revolution. From Berlin’s bhangra raves to Coachella’s megastages, Punjabi artists are redefining what it means to dress desi, and no one embodies this cultural style explosion better than Diljit Dosanjh.
Diljit Dosanjh: From the Pind to the Met Gala
In May 2025, the world watched as Diljit Dosanjh made history at the Met Gala, becoming the first Indian man to attend the fashion mega-event wearing a turban. But this wasn’t just any red-carpet appearance—it was a cultural statement draped in heritage and modernity. Dressed in an opulent ivory and gold sherwani by Prabal Gurung, complete with a feathered, bejeweled turban, a Cartier-inspired diamond necklace, a Panthère de Cartier watch, and a lion-headed, jewel-studded sword, Dosanjh didn’t just attend the Met Gala—he owned it. His cape, embroidered with a map of Punjab and inscribed in Gurmukhi, turned global fashion into a runway for regional pride.
The outfit trended in India for weeks, topping Vogue’s Best Dressed list and surpassing style giants like Rihanna and Zendaya. For many, this wasn’t just a look—it was a moment of reclamation. A powerful assertion of Punjabi identity, carved in threads of gold, heritage, and high fashion.
As art historian Alka Pande aptly put it, “Punjabi men are inventive. The region has been at the forefront of fusion; it believes in hybridity.” Dosanjh’s Met Gala appearance wasn’t just a showcase of fashion—it was a manifestation of that hybridity, blending traditional grandeur with Western haute couture.
Streetwear Meets Sherwani: The Birth of a Global Punjabi Aesthetic
While Dosanjh’s royal red carpet look grabbed headlines, his day-to-day style is no less revolutionary. Off-stage, he’s often seen rocking anti-fit trousers, chunky sneakers, colorful turbans, and layers of statement necklaces—a signature blend of street style and cultural roots that has set off ripples across continents. The very T-shirts, pearls, and kicks he wore on tour reportedly sold out within hours.
This style isn’t just a vibe—it’s a movement. Local bhangra dancers in California, for example, swap out traditional juttis for high-performance sneakers, noting that a high-intensity 16-minute performance would be impossible without them. In Berlin’s underground bhangra nights, crop tops and deconstructed jeans groove just as hard to the beat as any traditional kurta ever did. In Brampton or Southall, it’s not unusual to see colorful turbans paired with Nike hoodies or bomber jackets.
And these aren’t one-off trends—they’re a cultural lexicon. Young Punjabis are proudly remixing old-school Punjabi fashion with modern flair: sneakers over juttis, turbans with hoodies, oversized Kanda pendants worn like gold chains, and kurtas reimagined as streetwear silhouettes.
Style Icons of the Punjabi Fashion Renaissance
Dosanjh isn’t alone. He’s part of a broader wave of Punjabi artists who have turned fashion into an extension of their music, their politics, and their pride.
- Jazzy B, the original bhangra maverick, is known for his cookie-sized rings, flashy Kanda pendants, and silver-blonde hair. His aesthetic was among the first to fuse bling with tradition.
- Badshah, with his yellow-tinted sunglasses and logo-heavy streetwear, has turned oversized into aspirational.
- Yo Yo Honey Singh still rules hearts with graffiti-print jackets, baggy fits, and audacious color palettes.
- AP Dhillon, the Punjabi-Canadian breakout star, regularly rocks Louis Vuitton bombers, Chanel watches, and monochrome luxe streetwear that screams both status and swagger.
Each of these icons embodies the fusion of roots and reach. Their fans don’t just follow their music—they emulate their looks. And the style industry has taken notice. The fashion of these artists is no longer just performance costume; it’s commercial gold.
The Diaspora Effect: When Heritage Meets Hype
The global evolution of Punjabi fashion is deeply tied to the diaspora. Whether in Vancouver, Birmingham, or Queens, Punjabi youth have been bridging the gap between the traditions of their parents and the trends of their peers. This generation doesn’t see contradiction in wearing a Phulkari turban with Air Jordans. Instead, they see power. They see identity.
Cultural critic Rabbi Shergill explains this transition best: “It symbolized the movement of the Punjabi identity from a farmer to a global consumer.” In other words, it’s no longer about choosing between roots and relevance—it’s about blending both to create something original.
Fashion has become one of the most expressive tools for this fusion. The diaspora’s sartorial vocabulary—gold chains, faux fur jackets, oversized accessories, braids, and perfectly groomed beards—has inspired academic work, Instagram fan pages, and style blogs dedicated to decoding the ‘Punjabi drip.’
Back in Punjab: Global Swag Meets Local Streets
The ripple effect of this cultural fusion has made its way back to Punjab. At local bhangra events, dancers no longer show up in the traditional dhoti-kurta-jutti combo. Instead, they arrive in typographic T-shirts, distressed denim, and sneakers that look straight off a Supreme drop. Designer Harinder Singh, founder of the label 1469, says these styles are now “highly sought after” by customers. His stores stock everything from Phulkari turbans (in over 100 shades) to Kanda pendants inspired by Jazzy B and Pammi Bai.
Even poets and folk artists in Punjab have joined in. Gurpreet Saini, a young poet from Hariana, proudly performs in shawls printed with ombre Gurmukhi script—a modern twist on traditional elegance. And it’s not just his own innovation; he credits his look to the influence of style icons like Gurdas Maan and Diljit Dosanjh.
In a striking reversal of cultural flow, the diaspora’s style sensibilities are now informing the fashion codes back in the motherland. Where once Punjab sent out tradition, it now imports trends.
Fashion as Identity, Not Just Aesthetic
What’s striking about the Punjabi fashion revolution is that it’s never just about how you look. It’s about who you are. The styles worn by Dosanjh and his contemporaries don’t just elevate fashion—they express identity, challenge stereotypes, and rewrite narratives.
Unlike Western hip-hop, which often leans into hypermasculine style tropes, Punjabi hip-hop has embraced an androgynous, expressive look that defies binary gender norms. A performer might wear a Manish Malhotra sherwani one day and Balenciaga shades the next. Whether it’s a dance circle in Ludhiana or a yacht party in Dubai, Punjabi artists wear their roots proudly and stylishly.
This evolution of fashion reflects the soul of Punjabi music: bold, hybrid, unapologetic, and deeply connected to community. As the BBC put it, these aren’t just outfits—they’re “cultural signatures” that have helped “recast the Punjabi identity through rhythm, hybridity, and a rooted sense of self.”
Conclusion: A Cultural Renaissance Worn With Swagger
What started as individual flair among a few music stars has grown into a full-blown global cultural movement. Punjabi hip-hop is no longer just a genre—it’s a lifestyle, a visual language, and an evolving legacy. Through streetwear turbans, high-fashion sherwanis, sneaker-studded bhangra contests, and sold-out merch drops, artists like Diljit Dosanjh have ushered in a new era.
They’ve proven that tradition doesn’t have to be frozen in time; it can flex, evolve, and strut down a Met Gala red carpet. They’ve shown that identity can be global without losing its local flavor. And they’ve made one thing clear: when Punjabi culture meets hip-hop swagger, the result isn’t just stylish—it’s revolutionary.
The revolution isn’t coming. It’s here. And it’s wearing a turban with kicks.
