The kameez shirt makes a come back

Discovering and observing creative cross-pollination at work in Mumbai is always fun. I noticed a couple people from here and there -- illustrators, artists, photographers and furniture designers -- around Mumbai have turned tailor on a whim and are making beautiful, airy, fine cotton shirts. 

For designer Shahid Datawala an old project involving match boxes lit a spark for a series of printed shirts that are witty, urbane and ultra-modern. For another creative collective, founding The Camiz project was borne out of a will to experiment online with selling unisex tunics in earthy tones with an air of socialist cred. Both examples are above the mark in fabric and tailoring and made only in Mumbai. 

If someone asked me to pick a unisex uniform for urban soldiers as a steady staple for our hot, humid days, I would vote for these unique pocketed kameez shirts, over something I might find at the newly launched Zara any day. 

The Camiz by WETHEPPL

WETHEPPL is a self-assigned "experiment" by a bunch of artists, thinkers, musicians and illustrators in the city. It is meant to prove a virtual "space to speak" about transitional India, and was founded by four friends, including a brother and sister duo, who came together from as far as Kuwait, Toronto and Mexico. 

Some projects are "conceptual, some are physical, some are in pictures and some are in verse," they say. "Some are fresh, some are ancient, and some are a mix of both." But like The Camiz clothing experiment, inspired by the Urdu word for shirt and brought to my attention by the cool scouters at Brown Paper Bag, all their bright ideas are inspired by "the people around us, our friends and family and the people we look up to, pioneers and revolutionaries." 

Cut from "buttery soft cotton", WETHEPPL's unisex camiz could be worn "for a gig, in bed or to dinner at your folks'...[it is] the piece to wear on any revolution."

Since they launched it online two weeks ago, 45 citizens have placed orders.

The history of this irresistably cool piece of cloth goes something like this: "Conceived in Bombay, we combined our favourite elements of the lightest shirt, kurta, and sweatshirt, celebrating the classic colours and styles of professions we have all grown up with."

The doctor, engineer, architect, writer and a few wild cards thrown in as a nod to those who "shake up our world." The Ninja, The Che and The MJ (a red and black tribute to Michael Jackson) -- are all limited edition pieces.

Eight styles are available in sizes XS to XL, at Rs 2,200 each if you order online. To order email getit@wethepeopleareready.com Also available at Attic, Bir Sagar, 396/20, Flat #1, end of 17th Rd, Santacruz (W); tel. +91 (0) 22 3216 9292

Karborised shirts by Shahid Datawala

Once upon a time in sultry Delhi, Shahid Datawala looked down at the pavement and spotted an intriguing box of matches. He stooped, picked it up and pocketed the dusty thing. The magpie that he is, Datawala started zealously collecting curious, oddball, impish, suggestive and provocative matchboxes with labels that read, ‘New Shit’, ‘Tip Top’, ‘Judo Deluxe’ and ‘Cheetah Fight’ and compiled "Match Book: Indian Matchbox Labels" in 2007.

Datawala does other things too. A widely exhibited artist by way of photography, he is also currently chief designer at Mumbai home store Pallate, has wrought jewelery out of copper and now takes on textiles.

It is also the habit of the naturally creative to tie inspirations together. So for his first line of limited edition men's shirts Datawala drew on his pool of matchbox labels and named the label Karborised. What he does that's so great is to isolate and hone in the central graphic from the matchbox, be it an opener, a lantern, a spider or a doghead. Next step, he teams the kick-ass graphics with suitably kick-ass colors and some nifty design details and stocks them at the most cutting edge fashion boutique in town.

"Karborised is for men who are not sheepish when it comes to sartorial matters and who are willing to spike their wardrobe with wit and edge," says the designer who plans to design Karborised for women too. "I'm thrilled about this collection." 

Nine prints are available for Rs 4,500 each, in two styles (short and long sleeve) and two sizes (M and L). Available at Bombay Electric, 1, Reay House, BEST Marg, Colaba; tel +91 (0) 22 2287 6276