- Indian college students are blending Korean fashion with traditional Indian wear.
- Campus fashion clubs host K-style fusion events that highlight creativity and culture.
- Thrifted streetwear and sustainable sarees reflect Gen Z’s conscious fashion choices.
Korean fashion, once admired from afar via K-dramas and idol performances, is now reshaped in Indian college corridors. From DU to Mumbai University, students are crafting a distinct visual language—think ribbed Korean crop tops paired with handloom skirts, or pastel blazers over bandhgalas.
On special theme days like “K-Street Meets Kurta” or “Fusion Fridays,” campuses turn into style runways, where Indo-Korean looks shine. Students showcase creativity by mixing silhouettes and fabrics: vintage sarees are knotted into wrap dresses, while bomber jackets are worn over traditional kurtis.
From Seoul to Surat: The Campus Couture That’s Redefining Desi Style
At the heart of this trend is Gen Z’s fluid approach to culture. They don’t see fashion boundaries—they see canvases. A saree is no longer just ethnic attire; it’s a styling tool that can be cinched with a Korean obi belt or accessorized with platform sneakers. Similarly, the Korean hanbok’s silhouette is influencing contemporary Indian tailoring, with flowing sleeves and asymmetrical hems making their way into campus wardrobes.
Beauty culture, too, is part of the wave. Influenced by Korean skincare, students follow simplified routines focused on hydration and glow, using aloe gels, toners, and minimal makeup. The clean, dewy aesthetic complements their fashion-forward looks. Drugstores near college hubs have started stocking Korean-inspired beauty products to meet growing demand.
Social media plays a pivotal role in amplifying the trend. Indian student influencers post “GRWM” reels, thrift hauls, and fusion outfit lookbooks that go viral within hours. Tutorials often mix Indian textiles with Seoul’s streetwear logic—one viral video showed how to style a dupatta as a scarf with a varsity jacket. Pinterest boards titled “Indo-K Style Inspo” are increasingly popular among Gen Z fashion enthusiasts.
Interestingly, the movement has sparked sustainability conversations too. Students are consciously moving away from fast fashion and towards ethical styling. Many are upcycling old sarees into skirts, reusing denim in Korean-style layering, or thrifting embroidered jackets from flea markets. This eco-conscious twist gives the trend depth—and a purpose.
What began as admiration for Korean pop culture is now a full-fledged fashion movement in Indian colleges—personal, powerful, and refreshingly borderless.
“Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.” – Bill Cunningham
