My mom’s closet is a time machine

From Bollywood Bling to Boho Luxe: A Journey Through Fashion.

Fashion has always been a reflection of the time it’s created in. As Sabyasachi Mukherjee once said, “Fashion is a reflection of the culture we live in, and it always evolves to tell the stories of our times.” This couldn’t be more true when you consider how Indian fashion has evolved in the last few decades. Each garment, each print, each material has a story to tell—not only of the individual who wore it, but of the cultural changes, international influences, and the passing of time.

When you open your mom’s closet, it’s like opening a time capsule. The garments are so much more than mere material—they’re portals to a world where fashion was about making statements. The early 2000s were all about loud, in-your-face fashion. The bright neon hues, the big shirts, the funky graphic t-shirts, and the big prints were the rage. These in your mom’s closet are the voice of an era when fashion was large, loud, and unafraid—designed to attract attention and shout, “This is me.”

Yet as Sabyasachi himself reminded us, fashion does not remain static. It changes, adapting along with the times and responding to the constantly shifting world of culture. In the 2010s, fashion slowed down. The loud prints and baggy styles that characterized the last era were replaced by more subdued designs, smaller prints, and gentler fabrics. Where floral patterns were once loud and garish, they now became more delicate and intricate. The colors muted, shifting from neon to pastel colors, while the cuts became more structured and balanced.

Contemporary Indian fashion welcomes this change in so many thrilling ways. Now, you can observe the union of Indian fabrics—such as khadi, block prints, and ikat—coupled with modern Western styles. What was once deemed traditional is now haute couture, now seen on dresses, shirts, and even formal wear.Fashion is not confined to one culture or tradition anymore; it’s a mixture of both worlds, blending the two seamlessly together.

Comfort, too, has become a priority in today’s fashion landscape. The stiff, unbreathable fabrics that defined the early 2000s have been replaced by fabrics that move with you. Cotton, linen, and airy silks now dominate the scene, making it easier to look stylish without compromising on comfort. Even athleisure, which once lived only in the gym, is now part of mainstream fashion, showing just how much style has adapted to the modern lifestyle.

As you sort through your mom’s closet, those big tees and wacky prints may not be as trendy today. But in some sense, they set the stage for what we have today in contemporary fashion—filtered prints, defined silhouettes, and a combination of old-school and new-school designs. Fashion is a loop, and what may seem dated today always manages to circle back, just with a new spin.

And when we give our clothes to the next generation, the tradition will continue. Just like how we rummage through our mom’s closet and find remnants from the past, our children one day will rifle through ours. They will discover trends they would probably chuckle at, such as the blown-up oversized sizes we adored or the athleisurewear that characterized our time. But what they may not notice right away is the tale behind those garments—the manner in which we crossed cultures, combined styles, and turned functionality chic. In years to come, they may glance at our closets and wonder at the combination of street fashion, haute couture, and the revival of 90s trends. They’ll find clothes that speak of our time—our love for the vintage yet modern aesthetic, our obsession with comfort, and our creativity in blending old and new. And who knows? Some pieces will likely make a comeback in their own closets, just as we’ve seen in ours.

So when you whip out that vintage, oversized floral print or graphic t-shirt from your mom’s closet, it’s not just vintage, it’s a reminder of how far we’ve evolved. From Bollywood glamour to the laid-back, boho-chic style we know today, fashion has been an evolution that is reflective of individual growth and cultural development. And the best part? It keeps changing, keeps evolving, just like our story.