Policy · Commerce & Consumer Brands

Lenskart faces boycott calls over alleged dress code

By Startup Enthusiast · 16 April 2026

What they do

Lenskart sells prescription glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses and eyewear accessories

A viral post claimed an internal style guide banned religious items like bindi and tilak but allowed hijab

CEO Peyush Bansal said the document is outdated and current policy has no such restrictions

Writer Shefali Vaidya shared images on X on 15 April 2026 of what she said was a Lenskart internal employee style guide.
The document, publicly available on Scribd, listed hijab and turban as permitted under conditions.
It said religious tikka/tilak, bindi/sticker, and kalawa threads were not allowed.
The document stated hijabs must be black and not cover the company logo.
Vaidya claimed she confirmed the document is genuine and tagged Lenskart and founder Peyush Bansal for clarification.
The post went viral, and users called for a boycott, alleging discrimination against Hindu employees.
CEO Peyush Bansal responded on X, saying the viral document does not reflect current policies.
Bansal said the policy has no restrictions on any form of religious expression, including bindi and tilak.

The controversy highlights how internal company documents from years ago can resurface and spark public backlash.
Lenskart, built by Indians for Indians, faced accusations of religious discrimination despite its Indian roots.
The incident shows the power of social media to amplify a single post into a nationwide boycott call.

Lenskart is a technology-driven eyewear company.
It sells prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and eyewear accessories.
The company aims to build tech-enabled supply and distribution solutions for affordable quality eyewear.
Its brands are designed to be aspirational and appeal to a wide range of customer segments.