Gucci has decided to start selling Indian Sarees under their brand name. They will be paying Indian designers to work in their design center in Italy. They will get very well-paid for it. But the final label that will go on to the clothing line will be 'Gucci'. Indian designers may think it's a fair exchange (since they get well compensated for it and possibly get a lot of publicity); but in reality it is a very subtle form of cultural theft. As we all know that the Saree has always been a very important part of our culture and is worn by many Indian women. Should we let a European brand name take over such a crucial and sacred part of our culture, in the name of fashion and modernity Absolutely not. In the past, India was always colonized by various peoples. They already drained our land and culture of many important resources (eg. the kohinoor diamond, currently lying in a museum in the UK). At this point in time, we may be able to teach our children to be able to recognize, uphold and respect our cultural traditions, beliefs and values. We outsource people to work in foreign countries and add to the national income of another country. Don't let the saree become part of the 'brain drain'. Five or more generations down the line, the Saree like Dal Makhni (which is the national dish of England now), will have assimilated so deeply into European culture that our great grandchildren won't be able to identify it. People will be so mesmerized by the 'Italian' version of the Saree, that they will go Italy instead of Benaras to buy it. Doesn't that sound terrible You can help stop it now by signing this petition! The Saree has been a part of our cultural property for so long; let's respect it as a dress worn by Indian women. Let's keep it that way. Join me and stop Gucci from taking over a very crucial, much revered and sacred part of our culture.