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

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

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

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.



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.



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).



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).



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).

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.

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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.