A new year and a new start; perfect excuse to buy new wares for the closet! With the dollar still playing spoilsport, foreign purchases
(and all the cool imported labels) have become dearer. So what’s a fashion
lover to do? Well, it’s time to go local! At the moment, in this country (or
maybe in most parts of the world), there is nothing easier than opening a tee
shirt shop. Lately online tee-companies are multiplying like bunnies and while with
some sites there is some emphasis on original design and creativity, they are all
playing in the affordable-for-all-tee-shirt pool.
One of the site that beats this race is Playclan. They have
a handful of groovy shops all around India selling all kinds of merchandise
featuring their distinct graphic style. Their visual style is largely
inspired by the country but the feel is very arty and hand-drawn with a dash of
humour thrown in. Inspiration could come from mythological figures or
historical political icons or various cities of India – its all from a local
source but given a rendition that could appeal to anyone around the world.
What sets Playclan apart is the great level of detail. These
tee graphics are not just designed on the front but often on the back and
sometimes even on a sleeve. After printing the graphic, additional detail is
added through touches of embroidery. The tee I purchased is inspired by Benaras
and its religious sadhus; their detailing is done with French knots. Each tee
design features its mini-inspiration-story on the inner back just below the
sew-in label.
Even the hangtags and the cute yellow paper bag are designed
with attention to detail. Obviously all this comes at a price but wouldn’t you
mind paying a bit more for something a bit more handcrafted and unique than
your average slogan tee.
Check out playclan at: www.theplayclan.com
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| Playclan Store, Mumbai, India |
