Canadian influencer uses Indian steel thali as jewellery organiser, sparks the cultural appropriation debate again

Remember the childhood excitement of spotting that iconic blue box of Danish butter cookies, only to open it and find sewing supplies instead? Somehow, the cookie tin always transformed into the household sewing kit.

Now imagine the humble Indian thali, the quintessential utensil found in almost every Indian household. The only twist? Instead of serving dal-chawal, it's being used to organise jewellery. Yes, you read that right.

Viral video shows a steel thali being used as a jewellery organiser

A recent video by a Canadian influencer has gone viral for repurposing an Indian steel thali as an "aesthetic jewellery organiser."

On her Instagram page, Anais shared that she purchased the steel plate from Dollarama for around $3 to $4. In the video, she is seen arranging her jewellery in the thali's compartments, neatly sorting bangles, rings, claw clips and other accessories.

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What may have seemed like a simple organisation hack quickly caught the attention of Indian social media users.

Internet reacts: 'The West yearns for thalis'

As the video gained traction online, users flooded the comments section with jokes, memes and criticism. While some found the idea amusing, others pointed out what they saw as another example of cultural appropriation.

One user wrote, "The west yearns for thalis…" while another joked, "Pav bhaji wali plate."

Another commenter humorously referred to colonisation, writing, "Ain't no way the west now colonised the THALI dawg😭🙏"

"I ate lunch on one of these aesthetic thalis today," another user commented, adding a touch of satire.

The discussion soon expanded beyond the viral video itself. Some users highlighted that repurposing household items is deeply embedded in Indian culture through the concept of jugaad. However, they also stressed the importance of understanding and acknowledging the cultural origins of such objects.

Influencer apologises after criticism

Following the backlash and debate, Anais updated her caption and apologised for not knowing about the cultural significance of the thali.

Her revised post read:

"Learned that this plate is called a 'Thali', traditionally used in Indian communities.

Following recent comments, I want to sincerely apologise if this video came across as cultural appropriation. My intention was never to offend or disrespect Asian or Indian culture. I appreciate the feedback and will be more mindful moving forward."

Meanwhile, another comment reminds many of the cookie box memory, "When we do it: Cringe. When the West does it: Aesthetic. Make it make sense :p"

Cultural appropriation debate extends beyond viral trends

The incident has reignited a broader discussion about the appropriation of Indian culture without proper context, credit or acknowledgement.

In recent years, several Western brands have faced criticism for reintroducing everyday Indian items, crafts and traditional designs as luxury fashion statements without adequately recognising their cultural roots.

Critics argue that centuries-old Indian textile traditions and artisanal crafts are often repackaged and sold at premium prices while the communities that created them receive little recognition.

Whether it is Prada's Kolhapuri-inspired footwear or Ralph Lauren's use of jhumkas and Bandhani-inspired designs, the luxury fashion industry's approach continues to raise questions about where inspiration ends and cultural appropriation begins.

While Anais' viral thali video may have started as a simple organisation hack, it has once again highlighted a recurring debate: how traditional cultural objects are perceived, repackaged and celebrated when viewed through a Western lens.