Narendra Modi’s decision to have a suit monogrammed with his full name along its stripes reveals more than a questionable fashion sense. But the Indian prime minister can’t take full credit for this fashion faux pas, as he appears to have borrowed the concept from Hosni Mubarak, the former Egyptian president, whose suits also featured his name in their pinstripes, transforming a sober business suit into a dubious political statement.
For a prime minister charged with tackling the problem of corruption in India, Mr Modi’s extravagant and expensive wardrobe choice for his recent meeting with Barack Obama led to media outrage and criticism from his political opponents. To avoid further scandal, the suit will be auctioned off with proceeds going to a fund to clean the Ganges River. Yet the imagery of a politician forced to literally cleanse himself of political dirty laundry might leave a stain that even the best dry cleaner won’t be able to remove.