Homegrown Icons: The Men Who’ve Always Worn India Well

Across generations, Indian men have quietly redefined what personal style means, anchored not in trends, but in values. In restraint. In clarity of purpose. In wearing clothes that speak without shouting.

This independence Day, we are celebrating a few of many such Indian icons who embody that idea, each with a distinct way of showing up, not just in the world, but in what they wore.

1. Jawaharlal Nehru – A Collar that Became a Statement

Nehru didn’t dress to impress, he dressed to express. The bandhgala jackets and iconic Nehru collar shirts weren’t fashion moves, they were declarations of identity. Of an India that was finding its own form and language. His wardrobe was minimal, dignified, and entirely Indian. A reminder that you don’t need excess to be noticed, just conviction.

2. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam – The Humble Uniform of Genius

Dr. Kalam, our Missile Man, never once looked out of place in his signature grey bush shirt. It was practical, unpretentious, and perfectly in sync with his personality.
He proved that personal style doesn’t have to mean flamboyance. Sometimes, it’s about consistency. About showing up every day in clothes that let your work do the talking.

3. Gulzar – Poetry in White

If grace had a dress code, it would look a lot like Gulzar’s crisp white kurta-payjamas.
There’s something deeply powerful in how he’s held on to this silhouette for decades. No reinvention, no gimmicks. Just effortless elegance that mirrors his words: simple, soulful and deeply rooted in Indian ethos.

4. A.R. Rahman – Tradition with a Beat

The Mozart of Madras has always struck a perfect chord between the traditional and the experimental. From embroidered bandis to long kurtas paired with jeans, Rahman’s style choices echo his music, grounded in Indian classical forms, yet confidently global. He doesn’t follow style, he flows with it in a rhythm that’s entirely his own.

5. Satyajit Ray – A Director with a Designer’s Eye

Ray wasn’t just a filmmaker, he was a cultural force. Behind the camera, he wore his trademark white kurta with a shawl or an uttariya draped loosely over the shoulder.
It was a look that said, I know who I am. And in many ways, it’s the same assurance his films gave India, that our stories were enough.

So, What’s the Takeaway for the Modern Indian Man?

You don’t need to look overseas for style inspiration. You don’t need a new drop every week. What you need is clarity. Ease. Intention.

And perhaps a wardrobe that reflects your values.

At neopalms, we build shirts for that man. The grown, grounded man. The one who isn’t chasing trends, but defining his own sense of presence through choices that are quiet, confident and unmistakably his.

This Independence Day, we salute the men who came before us and wore India with pride. And we invite you to do the same.