As travellers across the globe invest in high-tech tracking devices to keep tabs on their luggage, some desis are staying loyal to a tried-and-true method that’s been passed down for generations: the humble ribbon. Bright, bold, and undeniably effective, this old-school hack recently got a hilarious shoutout from dermatologist Dr Faraz Ali, whose airport video struck a chord with desi travellers everywhere.
In the now-viral clip, Dr Ali is seen standing at the airport, pointing out how many suitcases are adorned with bright pink ribbons. "You've heard of AirTags, but have you heard of DesiTags?" read the text on his video. In the caption, he doubled down: “The more colourful, the better.”
While AirTags and other tracking gadgets offer location precision, the ribbon approach leans on visibility, familiarity, and, let’s admit it, a bit of family tradition. Anyone who’s flown with a desi family knows the drill: someone will always dig out a bright old dupatta or a strip from an outdated salwar to tie on everyone’s bags “just in case.” It’s low-cost, zero-tech, and surprisingly effective.
The internet joins in
It didn’t take long for the internet to rally around Dr Ali’s post. Many users found the ribbon hack hilariously relatable, calling it a classic example of something uniquely Indian. One described how spotting a suitcase with a strip of colourful fabric instantly creates a sense of unspoken connection with fellow desis at the baggage carousel. Another shared a nostalgic visual—how their mother would often repurpose an old, vibrant maxi or salwar by cutting it into strips to tie onto luggage, making sure their bags were unmistakable from a distance.
Turns out, this ribbon tradition isn’t just limited to desi households. “Africans do this too,” noted one user. Another chimed in, “West Indians do this but worse. Shoelaces, Christmas tinsel, literal scraps of cloth—I can’t even remember the rest.”
In the now-viral clip, Dr Ali is seen standing at the airport, pointing out how many suitcases are adorned with bright pink ribbons. "You've heard of AirTags, but have you heard of DesiTags?" read the text on his video. In the caption, he doubled down: “The more colourful, the better.”
While AirTags and other tracking gadgets offer location precision, the ribbon approach leans on visibility, familiarity, and, let’s admit it, a bit of family tradition. Anyone who’s flown with a desi family knows the drill: someone will always dig out a bright old dupatta or a strip from an outdated salwar to tie on everyone’s bags “just in case.” It’s low-cost, zero-tech, and surprisingly effective.
The internet joins in
It didn’t take long for the internet to rally around Dr Ali’s post. Many users found the ribbon hack hilariously relatable, calling it a classic example of something uniquely Indian. One described how spotting a suitcase with a strip of colourful fabric instantly creates a sense of unspoken connection with fellow desis at the baggage carousel. Another shared a nostalgic visual—how their mother would often repurpose an old, vibrant maxi or salwar by cutting it into strips to tie onto luggage, making sure their bags were unmistakable from a distance.
Turns out, this ribbon tradition isn’t just limited to desi households. “Africans do this too,” noted one user. Another chimed in, “West Indians do this but worse. Shoelaces, Christmas tinsel, literal scraps of cloth—I can’t even remember the rest.”
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