Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Narendra Modi’s Signature Vests Highlight Politics, Sustainability And Style
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known for having a distinctive clothing style.
He often wears a vest inspired by the traditional Nehru jacket.
His vests may use bright colors, khadi fabric and pocket squares.
In 2015, he wore a suit with his full name woven into its stripes during a meeting with Barack Obama.
That jacket was later auctioned with hundreds of other gifted items.
In 2023, Modi wore a blue vest made from recycled plastic bottles.
The makers said this process used much less water and energy than ordinary clothing production.
He also wears colorful head-wraps, shawls and other traditional accessories.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s signature Nehru-style vest features longer cuts, bright colors and pocket squares.
A 2015 bandhgala worn during a meeting with Barack Obama contained repeated embroidery of Modi’s full name.
The jacket was auctioned with 465 other gifted items a month after the meeting.
A sky-blue vest worn in Parliament in February 2023 was made from recycled plastic bottles.
Modi frequently wears khadi and accessorizes with pocket squares, shawls, colorful safas and pens.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with references to Barack Obama, the Indian Oil Corporation, Shree Renga Polymers and Ecoline Clothing.
- What
- A feature examines Modi’s signature vests, sustainable clothing and traditional fashion accessories.
- When
- The article was published on September 17, 2026, and discusses examples from 2015 and February 2023.
- Where
- The examples include a meeting at Hyderabad House and Modi’s appearance in Parliament in India.
- Why
- The article highlights how Modi expresses his personality through clothing and promotes Indian textiles such as khadi.
- Featured figure
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Signature garment
- A longer, colorful Nehru-style vest, often called the Modi vest
- 2015 outfit
- A blue pinstripe wool bandhgala embroidered with “Narendra Damodardas Modi”
- 2015 auction
- The jacket was auctioned with 465 other gifted items
- 2023 jacket
- A sky-blue vest made from recycled plastic bottles
- Reported environmental savings
- The recycled-material process saved at least 90% water and 50% energy compared with traditional production
- Preferred textile
- Khadi, which Modi wears in vests and bandhgalas