How this Swedish man fell in love with the Indian kurta in Mumbai

On August 15 2023 the Swedish Consul General in Mumbai Sven Oumlstberg first arrived in the city of dreams Being from Sweden he was used to the harsh cold climate which called for layers and layers of jackets suits and ties For months he tried the suit and tie but it just wasnrsquot working It was too darn hot And so the diplomat put on his first ever kurta and his love affair with Indian clothing began ldquoI think the first one was actually a green kurta I found them to be very comfortablerdquo he tells us ldquoSo I started wearing them every dayrdquo We ask him if everyone in the office has also followed his lead ldquoNot at allrdquo he jokes ldquoThe Indians wear western clothes actuallyrdquoA style here to stayHis goto store is Fabindia reliable classic and linenforward But like any Mumbai resident he allows himself a dream indulgence ldquoIf I had more money I would go to Sabyasachirdquo he admits ldquoBut thatrsquos a couple of zeros too much for my walletrdquoOumlstberg began wearing Indian clothing around January 2024 a few months after moving to India and hasnrsquot looked back since It has now been nearly two years of kurtas forming the backbone of his Mumbai wardrobe But will the style survive the transition back to Sweden eventually ldquoI think itrsquos a bit too cold thererdquo he laughsHe hints that he may try to incorporate elements here and there mdash perhaps thicker fabrics perhaps layering A kurta under a Swedish winter coat doesnrsquot sound too farfetched Style after all adaptsOumlstbergrsquos go to outfit is a kurta with a Nehru jacketFashion as a diplomatic toolFashion is quite a strong tool in the world of diplomacy used to signal soft power build relationships and show respect to the cultures they work with For Oumlstberg the shift to Indian clothing began purely out of comfort But its diplomatic value became clear soon enough He says ldquoIt was helping in my work as well Itrsquos easier for people to talk to me when Irsquom in Indian attire If I go in a suit and tie it can feel a bit stuffy and formalrdquoldquoIt sends a signal that yoursquore open to embracing the local culture Of course I will never be Indian but it makes it me more approachablerdquoComfort and climate may have kickstarted this sartorial shift but Oumlstberg quickly realised Indian clothing was doing something deeper ldquoIt helps in connectingrdquo he says He recounts numerous moments at events where strangers both Indian and foreign remark on his kurta with admiration The reaction is almost always warm In rooms filled with suits his Indian attire stands outOumlstberg was at the India Maritime Week summit 2025 in Indian attireCrazy for chikankariOnce he stepped into the world of kurtas he didnrsquot stop exploring Cotton remains his everyday staple but he has picked up favourites along the way ldquoI like chikankarirdquo he says immediately ldquoIndian design is very rich Every region has its own variety and specialityrdquo He has a surprising fondness for the look of a Paithani even after learning itrsquos traditionally a sari ldquoI like the work on it itrsquos so beautifulrdquo he addsWhile his daily wardrobe is soft cotton kurtas with a Nehru jacket he has also experimented with statement pieces His boldest look ldquoThe kurta I wore for the Ambani weddingrdquo he says But therersquos one garment he still hasnrsquot dared to try the sherwani ldquoIrsquove never worn one Itrsquos a bit too much to go to the office inrdquo he jests Maybe one day maybe for another Mumbai wedding invitation he leaves the possibility openOumlstberg dons his kurtas both at home and at work PicShadab KhanGoing desi Swede styleAt his Malabar hill apartment Oumlstberg sits easy in a linen blend beige kurta with a grey Nehru coat on top Somehow he has managed to marry Swedish values with desi fashion ldquoSwedish fashion is very scaled down Itrsquos monochromerdquo he says ldquoAnd Indian is totally the opposite loud colourful vibrantrdquo Hersquos found his happy medium but he doesnrsquot play it safe ldquoI love the coloursrdquoThe sustainability angle appeals to the Swede in him ldquoFor many Swedes sustainability is in our DNA We think about it when we buy anything mdash clothes furniture cars Here artisans work in a very sustainable way It aligns very well with how we thinkrdquoIt has also in a way given him a new entry into Indiarsquos cultural world Along with the clothes came Indian food ldquoOf course I need to have the spice level turned downrdquo He has a soft spot for one Mumbai classic pav bhaji ldquoMy favourite here in Maharashtra is pav bhaji I like it a lotrdquo