Dishoom and Illustrator Manjit Thapp Celebrate Inspiring Indian Women
London-based, Bombay-inspired restaurant chain Dishoom is set to launch its first-ever merchandise collection, joining forces with UK illustrator Manjit Thapp.
Landing later this month, the unique collection comprises three exclusive T-shirt designs, each featuring images of inspirational and underrepresented women from Indian history, including Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, Queen of Jhansi Rani Lakshmi Bai and female photojournalist Homai Vyarawalla.
An extension of Thapp's distinctive works, the collection saw her continue to bring to life the stories of female characters and their experiences, exploring powerful women from South Asian backgrounds and their perception within popular culture. Speaking about partnering with Dishoom, Thapp explained, "I loved Dishoom's concept for this project and jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with them to honour these three women."
She added, "In my own work, I illustrate South Asian women because, growing up, I didn't see myself represented and wanted to change that with the work I made. It was a joy to be able to illustrate these particular South Asian women from history for this project and shine a spotlight on their stories. I've enjoyed learning about the rich tapestry of their lives and then weaving elements from it into the final illustration. I especially loved how each of their lives is so different from one another, but there's a thread that connects them all."
The collection will be available for purchase from Dishoom's online store on July 31. What's more, for each T-shirt purchased, a small portion will be donated to The Girls Network, a charity set up to empower girls aged 14-19 through mentorship and a network of role models.
