Influencer Accuses Papa Don’t Preach Of Favouring 'White' Brides Over Brown, Designer Responds

Papa Don’t Preach by Shubhika: A well-known name among fashion enthusiasts, Papa Don’t Preach by Shubhika has long been the go-to label for brides seeking their dream dress. The homegrown brand, celebrated for its exquisite designs and fairy-core aesthetic, has successfully carved a niche in the fashion world. However, a recent controversy has thrust the brand into the spotlight, raising questions about its reputation.

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The controversy began when Pakistani influencer Sunia Bukhari shared her experience at the brand’s NYC pop-up event, calling out Papa Don’t Preach for what she described as preferential treatment towards other attendees.

In the video, which has since garnered over 800,000 views, Sunia recounts that her friend, who is set to marry in 2026, was searching for options for her sangeet while Sunia herself was looking for wedding guest attire. The duo attended the Papa Don’t Preach NYC pop-up event to check out articles while keeping high hopes of meeting the designer. However, their expectations quickly turned into frustration due to what Sunia described as a cold reception from Shubhika herself.

Influencer points out preferential treatment by Papa Don’t Preach founder

“The designer was so curt with us, it was so awkward,” Sunia says in the video, clearly expressing her disappointment.

Sunia noted that Shubhika seemed disinterested in interacting with them and went on to question, “Why to have a ‘meet the designer’ event if the designer doesn’t want to talk to you?”

She was particularly confused when she observed that a group of white attendees was given far more attention. “There was a party of white people trying on stuff before us, and she was so hands-on with them, handing them different items. But when it came to us, she just sat down and sighed loudly,” Sunia added.

What made the situation even more confusing for Sunia was that her friend, Tania, who also posts fashion content, had a similar experience.

Tania had tried to speak to Shubhika about her design inspiration, only to be met with a “super curt” response. “I wondered if it was in my head, but then when I ran into my friend Tania, she said she tried to talk to the designer about her inspiration and she was just super curt. So I was like, okay, it wasn’t just me,” Sunia said.

Designer responds

Expressing her side of the story, Shubhika Sharma, the designer behind Papa Don’t Preach, explained that she was feeling "under the weather in snowy NYC" during the pop-up event. In the comment section, Shubhika further clarified that she had spoken with the duo and learned that their wedding was scheduled for 2026, so she didn’t want to come across as "pushy."

Addressing the claims of preferential treatment, Shubhika explained that the "white client" in question was an existing client who had come to the pop-up for a refitting.
 

Mixed reaction

The video has sparked a wave of mixed reactions on social media, one user writes, “Tbh I've heard from a lot of girls that their experience was so similar to yours. And they all walked away thinking that outside of getting her name out there with a brown (white girl) like Mindy Kaling -- the brand wants to be known and worn by Caucasians more than brown girls."

“Somehow Indians have still not been able to get over white supremacy, no matter how educated they are. Not surprised this designer treated you poorly, sad, but thank you for sharing your experience, hope your sister and you find the most amazing and perfect outfit for the occasion,” another user added.

Calling it an unfortunate case, one user states, “I’ve been a part of Papa Don’t Preach for a while now, and I stand by the creativity, passion, and sheer hard work that goes into making every piece. However, I also understand that not every experience has been a positive one. No matter what’s said right now, I know it might not change how you feel—but I just want you to know that YOU, and everyone who has shared their experience, have been heard. Your feelings and feedback matter and it will be taken to heart by all of us. I truly hope this can be seen as an unfortunate case of bad timing rather than intent. At the end of it fashion for us is about inclusivity and connecting with people across the globe and I hope that’s what shines through moving forward.”