The story behind it
A shirt that
took two years.
We had the idea for the Mandarin Collar Shirt before we had a store. A loose, relaxed shirt — no collar stand, no fuss — in cloth that would age well. Something that could be worn to a wedding in the morning and a market in the evening without changing.
The difficulty was the fabric. We wanted a khadi that was substantial enough to hold its structure but soft enough to move with the body. We went through eleven samples in two years. The twelfth was right.
It is Sri Ramana's work. He wove the cloth at his pit loom in Ponduru, where his family has been weaving for four generations. The indigo is Meenaben's — natural dye from her unit outside Bhuj, in three separate immersion baths. The stitching is Faroukbhai's.
Three makers. One shirt. That is what we mean by cloth with meaning.
Before you order
Natural indigo fades over time — this is not a flaw. Each wash deepens the character of the colour. The first wash may release a small amount of excess dye. Wash it alone, in cold water. It will look better at a hundred washes than it does at one.
The makers
natural indigo · handspun khadi
₹ 2,900
- 130 GSM handspun khadi cotton
- Natural indigo · 3-bath immersion dye
- Coconut shell buttons
- Made to order · ships in 18–22 days
- Free shipping anywhere in India
Made after you order it. Not before.
How to care for it
Wash it alone. In cold water. Always.
Washing
Cold water only. Hand wash or gentle machine cycle. Wash alone for the first two washes — indigo releases excess dye.
Drying
Dry in shade. Direct sun will fade the indigo faster. Lay flat or hang — do not wring. It will crease. That is acceptable.
Over time
Indigo fades with each wash — this is by design. At fifty washes the colour will be different from what it was at one. Better, in our opinion.
