India, Aug. 11 -- A traditional South Asian garment worn around the waist, made of cotton and primarily worn by men - that's how ChatGPT clinically defines a lungi. What it leaves out is the sentiment and cultural significance it holds for Indians. Not just that, it also doesn't tell us that this breezy cotton drape is now striding into the fashion spotlight: think bold candy-coloured checks, silk blends for festive nights and reimagined cuts that flirt with sarongs, skirts, and even streetwear wraps.

The prime latest example of this change is actor Kareena Kapoor Khan, who strolled through a Greek holiday in a checkered lungi from Delhi label Gul Sohrab, paired with a bikini top and beach hair. Instagram gasped, fashion editors bookmark...