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The Indian Inch Blog | Better Than Just Desi T-shirts and Desi Tees

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 2 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #3173 in Shopping, #31567 overall

Rated G. (Control what you see)

"Better Than Desi" T-Shirts, We Fit the Body and the Intellect

 

Welcome to our blog.

TO GO DIRECTLY TO OUR STORE, PLEASE CLICK HERE (or on anything else on this page for the most part).

 

The best desi t-shirts, desi tees, and desi t shirt store on the web: The Indian Inch. http://www.theindianinch.com

 




Sick of the same old Indian or Desi t-shirts that just say "Desi" on them in pretty fonts?  Want a tee that does more than say "I'm Indian" (unless they work for TSA, most people could probably tell by looking at you anyway)? 

Us too.  That's why we created The Indian Inch.

Our goal is to create and market apparel that goes beyond being "Desi." Whether through simple social commentary, mocking current events, or questioning the status quo, we strive to design clothing for the body and the intellect. We will always be much more than your average Indian or desi t-shirt company.

The Indian Inch. Designed to fit the body and the intellect.

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Need to see a few samples?

They all link to our homepage.  From there, you can find this and all our statement-making designs for men and women and in all colors and styles.

REMEMBER TO USE OUR COUPONS, located on the site and below.  Save your $.



The Big Picture


This patterned design is, upon close inspection, just a grid of Oms. But step back, blink, and look again. You'll get the idea that it's all the little things that make up India.

Hardliners in the motherland would be well served to step back from their religious, political, or social points of view every now and then and remember that every tiny action has to be done with the spirit of something bigger and better.



 

 

 



 

Macaca

Macaca was just another defunct racial slur. Until it cost George Allen the election in Virginia. This shirt commemorates macaca as "New and Improved" because of its clear increase in "political sway." We also think we, the macaca population here in the States, should note that we can, in fact, have an effect on politics, and for the better.

And if you are a George Allen supporter, please close our window.



 

 

 



 

Ganesh Graphic

This hip graphic representation of Ganesh is both pleasing to the eyes and possibly the soul.







 

 

 



 


Ganesh 101

Even we tend to forget that the commonplace images in Indian culture are rooted in deep mythology and meaning. Don this tee and take a crash course, or edify someone else.





 

 

 



 

Bangalore Love (Men's and Women's)

A funny (and probably all-too-real) take on Internet dating, India style. Because when you're a busy professional, you just don't have time to meet people the old-fashioned way. ALSO AVAILABLE IN A VERSION FOR GIRLS. Men aren't the only ones who can be shallow.

 

 



 

 

 

 



 

American

Respecting two cultures and one identity, for many of us, this message hits close to home(land).

 

 


 



 

 

 



 
Gandhi Republic Day

Jan. 26 is Republic Day, but Gandhi should be celebrated year-round. This T features the Chakra laid under the Mahatma. Without him, there's no Republic.





 



 

 

 

 

Coupons 

Save Some $$

Don't worry, they're also posted on the site. We're nice like that.

$10 off $50: CACTUS1050 (expires Jun 01 08)

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In the News 

You're Not The Only One Who's Heard of The Indian Inch

Aug 18 07

We just set up a new group on FACEBOOK. Feel free to join, check out more pics of our tees, and discuss random Desi-related issues with the other members. Or just see if anyone in the group is hot.

FACEBOOK

May 21 07

We got a shout out in BIBI MAGAZINE. Of course, they have since changed the link and didn't archive the article like any normal website, but hey, thanks anyway guys. They did a small "expose" on Indian T-shirt companies, and our "Bangalore Love" and "American" Ts garnered some love. The faded image they used, however, did not.

BIBI MAGAZINE

Mar 26 07

Official launch of our SQUIDOO LENS. Find out more info on what makes us tick, read our product blog, and peruse other products we recommend (or compete with).

SQUIDOO

Feb 17 07

From "ROYAL" RAJA MAGAZINE online (yeah, you should probably be 18 before you check out other sections on this site. Hey, there's no such thing as bad press).

ROYAL

Dec 15 06

From WIRED MAGAZINE online (sure, maybe it's just the tiniest bit derisive, but it could have been much worse, considering the original bbc.com article).

WIRED

Desi Manifesto Blog 

The Forum For South Asian American Men

And women too.

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Product Blog 

What We're Thinking When We Make This Stuff

JANUARY 08

To celebrate the first Indian American governor in US history, we're proud to roll out our Jindal tee.

Whether you agree with his politics, his views, or his lifestyle (we would call him "Piyush" if given the chance), Bobby Jindal has achieved something extraordinary. Becoming governor of Louisiana is accomplishment enough. But to win in the Deep South, as an Indian... That is historic. The results of his term will affect other desis for years to come.

But first and foremost, we hope Jindal affects the residents of Louisiana in a positive way. They need him to succeed more than we do.

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DECEMBER 07

This shirt was our message to all the Indian hardliners out there: keep the goal in mind. We never like to see people become extremists. Religion is the most obvious example (and our design is made entirely of small Oms), but when it comes to politics, social views, economics, etc., sometimes we get so mired in the details that we forget what it's all about.

Until we wear The Big Picture tee. Then we remember that every tiny action has to be undertaken with the spirit of something bigger and better in mind.

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NOVEMBER 07

Various political campaigns are rolling everywhere in the US. And politics will forever remind us of the recent strides made by desis. And I'm not talking Jindal (yet). Enter our Macaca tee.

George Allen threw the formerly defunct racist vocab at a young Indian man during the 06 Senate race in Virginia. The kid was a supporter of his opponent and was recording Allen's public speech. When word leaked about Allen's French colonial faux pas, it cost him his lead and the election.

Since then, the word has become almost a rallying cry and a source of pride for brown folk. It also signifies that brown people, when properly motivated and willing to talk to the larger media, can make change happen.

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OCTOBER 07

Almost every person we see nowadays is wearing a cool graphic shirt. We decided to help those in search of such fashion with our Ganesh Graphic tee.

We wanted a graphic tee that spoke to us. Not just random faded logos or meaningless numbers and "splats" or those overdone skulls. And don't say 'they remind us of our mortality' (you know the tees we're talking about. You might even be wearing one right now).

Well, our first stop for cool visuals is usually Indian imagery. Ganesh imagery is prevalent, but it never loses its luster. So we made something we liked and played around with it until we felt we had something better than all the numbered splotched skulls with logos. We hope it speaks to you the way it does to us.

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SEPTEMBER 07

More delving through old India pics provided the inspiration for our Graphic Om tee.

We've always admired the architecture of India's many temples. The variety and complexity is astounding, and region to region, temples show you something unique. In a way, temples are living, breathing art, with their devotees and priests providing the human element that mixes with, depending on your beliefs, the soul. We modified the image of a temple and put it under an Om to create a cultural and spiritual tee. And if you're not religious? It's just funky cool graphic art.

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AUGUST 07

Going back to school will be a lot more fun if you educate yourself with our Ganesh 101 tee.

As we were reflecting on all the imagery in Hinduism, we came upon a few sites that detailed what every portion, symbol, and sign meant in various images. By far, the most popular image was the "Everyman's God" of the Hindu pantheon, Lord Ganesh. We figured that even we could use a refresher course, especially one as fashionable and striking as this. Edify yourself or someone else.

BBC.com South Asia 

Current Events From the Subcontinent and its Borders

Great source for news on India, and oftentimes without the natural bias of an Indian living at home 24-7.

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Product Blog (cont'd) 

What We're Thinking When We Make This Stuff

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JULY 07

While going through some photos from India trips past, we found the seed that grew into our Original Hybrid tee.

With all the eco-friendly vibes and green mania going on (which we support, though we still can't figure out where to recycle AA batteries), we were wondering how "with it" India could be. Because, while we use bio-degradable dinner plates (banana leaves) and old-school tractors (bullock carts [side note: we hear cows actually account for more greenhouse gas than factories]), India also has pollution destroying the air and her cities. We look at those CNG auto rickshaws and try to patronize them more than others, as they are the future that unites India's past and present in an ecologically sound manner.

And we thought this shirt captured some of the humor that we saw in India. Sometimes you need new technology to save you from your old technology, but the simple ways can be the most advanced of all. If you really feel this shirt, you could say we were leading the green revolution thousands of years ago.

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JUNE 07

Getting that collection of your favorite songs together for summer? Remember to count yourself with our Greatest Hits tee.

Sure, you can't be downloaded from Limewire, but you can still be one of the best things to come out of India (or from people who came out of India). We see ourselves as the product of many influences, but a lot of those are rooted in India, whether that's through family, language, music, religion, or in our case, food. Even if we were raised elsewhere (in this shirt's case, the US), you can still count yourself as one of India's greatest hits. Because trust us, if you achieve even the smallest bit of success, if you tell India Abroad newspaper, they'll publish it. Then our parents ask us why we're not in there.

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MAY 07 [PART 2]

With the resurfacing of those summer raves and music blasting on the streets, including Little India, we figured it was time to show off our Spin tee.

We took those trendy music/DJ/iPod tees that are so fashionable right now and put our own Indian twist on them. In our heads, there's more to India than what you can read in a textbook or even see with your eyes. You gotta use all your senses, including your ears. That doesn't mean listening to Bollywood music. It means listening to the rhythm of the country and its people, their stories, their sentiments, and yes, their accents. If India were on the turntable, you'd have to give it a spin and plug yourself in to really get an idea. That's what we try to do, and that's why we love this shirt.

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MAY 07

A new month, a new shirt. And, in terms of Indian culture, an old concept that somehow seems new. Confused? check out our Durga tee.

If you know your Puranas, you've heard the stories of the female power, Shakti, overcoming all obstacles, including the male powers. Perhaps the most famous example is the story of the creation of Lord Ganesha.

Why, then, have Indian women been oppressed since time began? It's a very complex answer, and we don't have it. But we do know that with every passing day, Indian women grow in influence, affluence, and power. They've always been capable, and now they're getting their shots. Hence, this tee. Express how you, too, can conquer all the evils in front of you. Being female shouldn't hold you down. Read up on those old stories and use that femininity to level your obstacles.

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APRIL 07 [PART 3]

Someone stop us. This is the third shirt this month. And this one's outstanding. For the ladies, it's our Word India tee.

Shaped entirely out of words, it's a stream of consciousness from when we visit India or reflect on our relationship with the subcontinent, especially as most of us grew up thousands of miles and cultures away.

The beauty and poverty, the joy and disgust, the hope and the despair all come to the surface at the same time, consuming you, exhuming you, yet spitting you out more whole than before.

It's funny how many conflicting emotions and opposed sentiments one can have, especially when they all are equally true. But at the end, we consider ourselves lucky to be in the position to understand two cultures.

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APRIL 07 [PART 2]

You are witnessing an instant classic, more than worthy of breaking our "one shirt a month" rule: our super Patel Brothers tee.

Have you ever noticed how nearly every Indian grocery store is called "Patel Brothers"? We've seen it coast to coast. There's something about these grocer Patels that just makes them stronger than your average Patel brothers. More powerful, braver--what's the word? Super.

We thought it was time to take two timeless classics and combine them into one shirt. Doesn't hurt that Italian cartoon characters bear a strong resemblance to a couple Indian uncles we have, down to the mustaches.

We here at The Indian Inch certainly look upon our local, hardworking, sometimes corner cutting (see: "Warp Zone") Indian grocers with awe. Now, everyone else can too.

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APRIL 07

We'd like you to meet our new Bangalore Love tee. If you two hit it off, who knows what might happen? Amma and Appa could have the wedding ready in three months. We have a different version for men and women, so don't fret if you're feeling left out of the marital bliss.

We were thinking about how funny the institution of Indian marriage and romance can be. With the money flowing into India, the professionals staying at home rather than migrating abroad, the rising status of women, and the advent of the Internet, tradition and modernity had to clash at some point. But we also know the main purpose of that technology is rather primal. To give us an answer to the question every guy in every language wants to know before meeting a girl: "Is she hot?"

Or for the women: "What's he like?" ["And is he hot?"]

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MARCH 07

We unveiled our Blood of India tee to striking effect. We wanted to make a statement about what it is to be Indian.

Is it being brown? Having a last name like Kumar? Is it having roots descended from the subcontinent? Not to us. That means nothing. Being Indian is on the inside. When you're really Indian, it's in your blood. The good, the bad, your love for it, your hate for it, your past and your future. You know the people, the culture, the norms, the thoughts, for better or for worse. The bottom line test: even if you tried, changed your name, appearance, etc., you couldn't get rid of it. You'd still be Indian. That's how you know.

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FEBRUARY 07

We've recognized the ever-increasing popularity of our Nationalitees. Guess we're not the only ones who realize that you can be from two places at once and be 100% of each.

Sepia Mutiny Blog 

Current Events Worldwide With Trademark Desi Angles

The (semi) underground blog of all current events related to the Indian subcontinent and its diaspora.

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Ready to Find a "Better Than Desi" T-shirt That Actually Says Something? 

http://www.TheIndianInch.com

T-shirts and tons of other apparel for men and women, all available through CafePress.

Like we said, "shameless." Don't forget to use our coupons.

Ashoka Pillar 1950 T-Shirt

Officially adopted in the country's inaugural year, 1950, the Ashoka Pillar is one of India's national symbols. You'll look so good in this design that you could be one too.

Price: 26.00

Buy Now

Toilet Jr. Ringer T-Shirt

Shouldn't these little bathroom monitors come in more colors than white?

Price: 23.00

Buy Now

Tech Support and So Much More T-Shirt

Sure, we do the call center thing. But that's not all. See: cricket, the number zero, and, if you must, the Kama Sutra.

Price: 25.00

Buy Now

Bangalore Love T-Shirt

A funny (and probably all-too-real) take on Internet dating, India style. Because when you re a busy professional, you just don t have time to meet people the old-fashioned way.

Price: 27.00

Buy Now

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Our Competition 

Not Buying Our Hype (or Our Stuff)? Then We Dare You to Browse Other Shops:

Here are other shops where you can find that Desi Tee you desire:

Other Items That We Support 

Amazon.com Has the Goods

This stuff exemplifies some of what being Indian is, at least to us:

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Love Us? Hate Us? Tell Us! 

Feedback, please.

happyladdu

awesome designs!

Posted April 07, 2008

desi Charmer

"you looked better on shaadi.com" is too damn funny. far superior to the other indo t shirt shops, lol

Posted March 07, 2008

Ganesh

Very cool, very funny. Keep it up.

Posted February 05, 2008

Netflix Movies 

They Actually Have Indo Films

We support them, even though they may take over the world, because:

1) They have a wide selection of Indian films in multiple Indian languages and dubbed into English
2) They have independent and small-market Indian films, not just Bollywood (and re: Bollywood, we're lukewarm at best, though when there are notable exceptions, they're great).
3) They have Satyajit Ray films. Maybe not a ton, but they have some, period.

Here are the top foreign films in general:

001- Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Marriage has gotten stale for John and Jane Smith (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie), a husband and wife...
002- Blood Diamond

Set during Sierra Leone's bloody civil war in 1999, this thriller stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Danny A...
003- Casino Royale

Martin Campbell (GoldenEye) directs this film adaptation (the 21st of the Bond franchise) of Ian Fle...
004- Inside Man

Dispatched to a crime scene where a bank robbery is in progress, police detective Keith Frazier (Den...
005- National Treasure

Modern treasure hunters, led by archaeologist Ben Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage), search for a treasu...
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theindianinch

About theindianinch

Our goal is to create and market apparel that goes beyond being "Desi." Whether through simple social commentary, mocking current events, or questioning the status quo, we strive to design clothing for the body and the intellect.

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