What the BudX NBA Weekend in Mumbai Says About the Future of Fashion in India

What the BudX NBA Weekend in Mumbai Says About the Future of Fashion in India

This weekend, Mumbai is witnessing a cultural moment—Budweiser x NBA House is bringing together basketball legends, international music artists, and an energy that fuses sport, performance, and community. But if you’re someone who observes shifts in fashion and self-expression closely, you’ll notice something else happening: sportswear is no longer off-duty. It’s the moment.

“As the founder of Balav, a brand that builds clothing for creative performers and modern-day storytellers, I’ve always been drawn to what people wear when they’re not “trying”—because that’s where identity shines. And events like BudX NBA prove one thing: the worlds of sport, fashion, and culture are no longer parallel. They’re braided together.” – Vaishnavi Bala

The Jersey Has Evolved and So Has Its Purpose

The NBA jersey is no longer confined to court side nostalgia or streetwear cool. It has quietly become one of the most versatile, expressive garments in fashion today.

Why? Because it ticks all the right boxes:

• It’s lightweight and breathable
• It layers well across seasons and genders
• It holds cultural weight, especially for a new generation raised on both sneakers and self-expression

We’re seeing people style them with everything from wide-leg pants to saris, oversized blazers to thigh-high boots. And it works—because the jersey isn’t just a “look.” It’s a feeling. It says: “I showed up, and I didn’t come to blend in.”

Why Sportswear Speaks to India’s Creative Youth

India’s new wave of creators, artists, and performers are building careers that aren’t linear. Their wardrobes reflect that. People who value personal style!

They want outfits that move with them. Outfits that work for the 9 AM pitch, the 4 PM shoot, and the 10 PM pop-up. In that world, fashion isn’t about aesthetics alone—it’s about function, identity, and story.

That’s why sportswear makes so much sense right now. It’s flexible. It’s expressive. And it makes you feel like you belong in your own skin—even when the world is watching.

Form Follows Energy: Balav’s Baseball Shirt as a Case Study

At Balav, we’ve always approached design through the lens of movement and purpose. One of our recent pieces—a baseball shirt inspired by the classic American jersey silhouette—was our way of reimagining what that energy looks like in a modern day context.

Instead of designing it as a traditional jersey, we added a hint of utility inspired by our best selling Lost My Sh*t pants , four playful, functional pockets. Not just for aesthetic value—but because our community is made up of performers, stylists, visual artists, creators who are constantly doing. And the clothes need to keep up.

It’s not about fashion for fashion’s sake. It’s about building pieces that live with you, that hold your rhythm, and sometimes, your essentials—phone, mic, lighter, or even that weirdly specific snack you need before going on stage.

This isn’t a plug. It’s a perspective.

Design should adapt to the culture it speaks to—and that culture, right now, is in motion.

BudX NBA: A Shift in India’s Style Narrative

Events like BudX NBA House are more than branded experiences. They’re signposts. They tell us that:

• Fashion in India is becoming more experiential
• Our creative communities are being recognized globally
• Luxury fashion and sportswear are becoming tools of identity—not just trends

Watching a room full of artists, dancers, athletes, and style-forward creators come together at an event like this makes one thing very clear: we’re in the middle of a style shift—and India is ready for it.

Final Thoughts: Dress Like You Already Belong

For the young designer reading this, or the stylist building their dream wardrobe on a budget, or the creator trying to figure out what to wear to an event that feels bigger than them—here’s what I’ve learned from building Balav and watching the rise of sportswear in India:

You don’t need to dress like you’re trying to belong.

You need to dress like you already do.

So whether it’s a thrifted jersey, a reworked shirt, or a Balav piece built with hidden pockets and loud energy—what matters is how it makes you feel.

Confident. Seen. Ready to move.

Because fashion isn’t just how you look.

It’s how you enter.

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