The rise of instagram handles like @DietSabya which provide sartorial criticism has created more accessible spaces for people in India to participate in conversations around fashion.
DietSabya, a clever turn on the international page called DietPrada, came onto the scene in 2018 and took it by storm. Providing not only updates on high fashion sartorial choices but also highlighting traditions, trends and conversation surrounding the role of fashion in India beyond just sitting still and looking pretty.
Serving news and opinions with a side of humor and plenty of interaction with followers and celebrities alike, the page in many ways, has created a new age of fashion accessibility.
While celebrities and their lives of glitz and glamor have always been a source of attention, envy and influence, the true impact of fashion on the Indian identity in a globalized age was left to academic deconstruction.
However with the rise of social media platforms, the lack of availability of information on fashion beyond magazines and page three news signaled a time for change. This change was brought forward by DietSabya and since then has incited other fashion journalism and commentary in the same spaces and platforms.
Rise to Success
Why is it that this unknown blogger has garnered attention and appreciation in online communities unlike any other? The word “unknown” is one of the key elements of the allure of the fashion fairy godparent.
Just as @DietPrada, the anonymity of the social media handle allows one to consume without any barriers of assumption based on who the person is. Anonymity also ensures protection when the handle exposes designer faux paus from dealing in ‘copies’ to plagiarized designs etc.
The page has a charm that pushes against powerful brands and designers in the industry and also pulls into the limelight local brands, making it difficult to look away whether you like their takes or not.
Accessibility in Online Spaces
This has also allowed the average person to interact with fashion on a deeper level. While airport looks, magazine covers and award show designs bombard people, the ability to analyze these trends is now available to viewers and readers.
Instead of mindlessly following trends people are exposed to a wider variety of perspectives and able to contribute to a discourse that has been largely gatekept. It also plays into ideas of inclusivity and representation as DietSabya highlights Indian brands and designers as well as queer fashion choices beyond the usual scope of celebrity and pop culture relevance.
Fashion has always been seen as a space for the elite, often linked also to gender expectations. However, with the rise of thrifting spaces, online promotions and online learning – a page like DietSabya provides opportunities for learning and community for its followers and also for the Indian fashion industry at large.