What if we told you that a simple cloth bag worth less than ₹100 is being sold abroad for over ₹4,000? Well, that’s clearly business and quite the money-making move. Large ‘jholas’ featuring promotional labels of pan masala brands, usually available at local stores for around ₹40, have now caught the attention of the internet after similar bags were being spotted on an e-commerce platform for over ₹4,000. Yes, two extra zeros and a big price jump!
American luxury department store, Nordstrom, listed the item as an “Indian Souvenir Bag” for $48 (Rs. 4,230.91 as per the website). Would Indians buy it for the nostalgia or a sense of homeliness? Probably not—the price tag is enough to put most off.
Product Description
The bag, rebranded by Japanese company Puebco, was described on Nordstrom’s site as “a must-have for any traveler or lover of Indian culture.” The listing also read: “Take a piece of India with you.”
The product was even called a “stylish bag”, a claim that not many would found debatable. However, one line did resonate with users: “Perfect for carrying your essentials while showing off your love for a beautiful country.”
Photos on the website showed bags featuring bold Devanagari text like “Ramesh Special Namkeen,” referring to a store in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and another with “Chetak Sweets.”
Netizens React
Several people reacted to the pricing on social media platform X. One particular post by user ‘Wordita’ went viral. Sharing a screenshot of the listing, she wrote, “What in the name of scam is this!! Jhola being sold at a premium department store Nordstrom for $48! I’m a homesick person but even I haven’t reached these levels of nostalgia.”
Her post almost sparked a meme fest, with many users sharing photos of Vimal-branded bags, a well-known pan masala brand that also makes similar bags. Some didn’t object to the price, but instead crowned Vimal as the OG of such jholas.
