Third Culture Apparel
Origins Collection
In their own words, Third Culture Apparel is "a collective dedicated to showcasing artwork and design of globalized origins." Origins – their second streetwear collection – celebrates diversity in cultural heritage. It showcases, through contemporary fashion, the rich cultural legacy of the global East that is largely excluded from mainstream media and fashion in the West.
I worked with them on creating four designs for this collection. This project is especially significant to me as it features cultural symbols that I grew up around, in Mumbai, India.
Kathakali T-Shirt
This T-shirt is an ode to the distinct cultural traits found in the southern Indian state of Kerala, often referred to as 'God's Own Country'. Its back features a vibrant mask integral to the ancient classical dance Kathakali, which originated there. Using Procreate, I created this mask based on the classic Kathakali headdress, but with a more saturated colour palette.
Pearl of The Orient Sweatshirt
'Pearl of the Orient' refers to Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of China often described as a place where "East meets West" because of the territory’s Chinese and British roots. Its flashy skyline and streets decked with neon lights are said to mimic the shimmer of pearls, thus giving it its title. I used Adobe Illustrator to create the single-line outline of the infamous Hong Kong Skyline featured on the back of the garment, along with its Cantonese name ‘香港’ .
Chai Not Tea T-Shirt
Chai, चाय: A beverage made with black tea, milk and spices. A staple across the Indian subcontinent, “chai” originated from the Hindustani word “chai” meaning tea, originally derived from the Chinese word ‘cha’. Behind every Chai is a chai wallah, an individual who makes and sells tea on pavements and streets across India. In the late 90s, foreign companies recognized the potential of this concoction and started selling what is typically known as ‘masala chai’ abroad, under the names “chai tea” and “chai tea latte”.
The front of this t-shirt depicts the iconic chai glass, while a chai wallah can be seen on the back with a kettle of masala chai.
East Is The Origin T-Shirt
This piece depicts an Egyptian postage stamp with a Bedouin woman. The Bedouin people are a community of Arabs who have inhabited North Africa for many centuries who typically led a nomadic lifestyle. The scripted quote “الشرق هو الأصل” translates to “The East is The Origin”. In recent years, cultural imperialism has led to many non-Westerners idolizing the West. This saying is a reminder that, from mathematics to medicine, the East is the cradle of civilization. After all, the sun rises in the east. I collaborated with Graphic Designer Tushar Agarwal to create this, using Procreate and Photoshop.
