Wearable Art: A Collaboration with Bhajju Shyam
Art has the power to move us, to tell stories, and to inspire imagination. But what if art could move with you? What if it could be something you wear, something that interacts with your everyday life? We are thrilled to present a unique collaboration with renowned Indian artist Bhajju Shyam, bringing his vibrant, intricate artistry to life on a hand-dyed cotton Aloha shirt.
Photo from Galleriesplash.com
He was born in Patangarh, a village of the Gond tribe in the forests of central India.
He inherited the expressions and stories passed down among the Gond people. He has transformed these traditions from his own perspective. By blending modern sensibilities and simple storytelling, he continues to expand contemporary Gond art, established by his mentor and uncle, Jangar Singh Shyam.
Starting with his participation in a group exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 1998, he has since held solo and group exhibitions at museums and galleries worldwide, including in London, Berlin, Milan, and the Netherlands.
His key works include The Night Life of Trees (co-authored with Durga Bai and Ram Singh Urveti; Japanese translation: The Night Life of Trees, translated by Aoki Etsuto, Tamra Publishing, 2012). He created this book with the South Indian publishing house Tara Books, and it has been translated into eight languages. Other important works are Creation (Japanese translation: The Beginning of the World, written by Gita Wolf, translated by Aoki Etsuto, Tamra Publishing, 2015) and The London Jungle Book (Japanese translation: The London Jungle Book, written by Gita Wolf and Shirish Rao, translated by Surani Kyoko, Miwasha Publishing, 2019).
In 2018, he became the first Gond artist to receive the Padma Shri and was honoured by the Indian government.
In 2023, Bhajju Shyam's first solo exhibition in Japan, "Bhajju Shyam KYOTO," will be held at the World Heritage Site Toji Temple in Kyoto. The event will attract about 10,000 visitors over 19 days. This will also be his first visit to Japan. During his stay, he will create works themed around Kyoto and Japanese culture as an artist-in-residence.
About Tarabooks
Bhajju Shyam’s art is born from the Gond tribal tradition of central India, where every form in nature — a tree, a river, a bird — carries its own soul. His works are known for intricate lines, rhythmic dots, and mythic symbolism that turn daily life into poetry.
From his internationally acclaimed books with Tara Books, such as The London Jungle Book and The Night Life of Trees, his drawings have traveled far beyond India — connecting people through universal stories of harmony between human and nature.
At Pagong Kyoto, our philosophy has always been to preserve and reinterpret traditional Japanese dyeing and printing techniques through contemporary clothing. The heart of our work — like Bhajju’s — lies in the power of the handmade process.
When we discovered that Tara Books’ hand-printed pages and our fabric dye printing shared the same screen-printing method, the connection felt immediate and natural.
Both crafts rely on human touch — pulling pigment through silk screens layer by layer, creating depth, warmth, and individuality. No two prints are ever identical, and that is where the true beauty lives.
Art without Name
This collaboration is inspired by the idea of open interpretation. The artwork on this Aloha shirt began without a name—not because of a planned concept, but simply because Bhajju painted freely, without thinking about titles or meaning. When the piece was finished, it remained untitled, allowing it to exist purely as it was created. Each wearer now becomes part of the creative journey, bringing their own stories to the piece. This is not just a garment—it’s a living canvas, a dialogue between the artist and the wearer, where color, pattern, and movement create an ever-evolving narrative.
Our collaboration celebrates this unique moment of creation. By hand-dyeing this untitled artwork onto premium cotton Aloha fabric, we have transformed it into something wearable, tangible, and entirely personal. This shirt is more than fashion—it’s an invitation to experience art in motion, to interpret, imagine, and carry a piece of Bhajju Shyam’s creativity with you.
The Craftsmanship: Hand-Dyed Excellence
Every shirt is meticulously hand-dyed on premium cotton fabric. The process is labor-intensive, blending traditional techniques with modern artistry to ensure that no two pieces are exactly alike. The result is a garment that is not only visually stunning but also tactilely rich, soft, and comfortable—perfect for those who appreciate the intersection of fashion and fine art.
Why It’s Special
Wearable Art: Carry a story on your sleeve—literally.
Unique Interpretation: Every shirt invites you to engage, interpret, and create your own narrative.
Limited Collaboration: This is a rare opportunity to own a piece of art that lives, moves, and evolves with you.
Cultural Connection: By wearing this shirt, you support and celebrate the Gond-Pardhaan artistic tradition.
Experience the Collaboration
This collaboration is more than fashion—it’s a celebration of creativity, heritage, and individuality. Each shirt is an invitation: to interpret, to imagine, and to tell your own story. Whether you’re an art lover, a fashion enthusiast, or someone seeking a meaningful and unique garment, this piece offers an experience that transcends the ordinary.
Explore the vibrant patterns, the intricate hand-dyed details, and the living story behind this collaboration. Let your imagination take flight, and wear art in a way that is entirely your own.
