A zoomed-in image of the suit that Modi wore for his talks with Obama on Sunday shows the name Narendra Damodardas Modi stitched in yellow in vertical stripes on the black-grey background.

Agencies/New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s daring fashion choices have won plaudits in the past, but his decision to wear a suit with his own name printed all over it sparked a barrage of mockery on social media.
The rare sartorial misstep involved a pin-striped suit Modi wore for his one-on-one meeting with visiting US President Barack Obama on Sunday.
When images of the prime minister were enlarged, it became clear that the subtle pink stripes were made up of the words “Narendra Damodardas Modi” printed in tiny letters on the tailored wool suit.
Close-up images of the suit have gone viral, triggering sardonic responses from social media users under the hashtag #ModiSuit.
“Maybe he was afraid that someone would steal his clothes?” Suprateek Chatterjee tweeted, calling it a “vanity-striped suit.”
Political opponents too jumped at the chance to take potshots at the prime minister.
“The levels of megalomania and narcissism are unparalleled...it reveals a lot about the mindset of the man,” said Shehzad Poonawalla, a supporter of the main opposition Congress Party.
Modi’s long-time tailor said the suit was specially made for Obama’s visit.
“We were told that he had loved it because it was something exclusive,” said the Gujarat based designer who has worked closely in designing Modi’s wardrobe since 2001. The tailor declined to be named.
Fashion designers say the finesse with which Modi’s name features in the fabric requires special technique, and that the fabric is most likely hand-woven.
“It’s a very fine jacquard technique of weaving. It’s not embroidery, and its cost would be dependent on the fibre and technique,” designer Samant Chauhan said, indicating that developing such a fabric could cost anything between Rs80,000 to Rs500,000.
Designer Raakesh Agarvwal says it’s “daring” on Modi’s part to wear it for an important event.
Modi has long been known for his flair for fashion, often sporting short-sleeved versions of the kurta.
The look has become so popular that the “Modi Kurta” has become its own label in India.
Obama himself lauded Modi’s style at a state dinner held on Sunday in New Delhi, comparing it to his wife’s sartorial elegance.
“So he’s tough. And he also has style,” Obama said.
“One of our newspapers back home wrote, ‘Move aside, Michelle Obama. The world has a new fashion icon.’”
Modi is not the first world leader to wear his name on his sleeve. In 2011 former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak was photographed wearing a bespoke suit with his name printed into pin-stripes.