On account of Go Skate Day, we are launching a limited edition Checkerboard patterned Ikat shirt. Uday and I, being sneaker aficionados, were thrilled to come across this checkerboard pattern fabric that reminds us of the iconic checkerboard Vans pattern. To our amaze, this pattern is handwoven using the technique called Ikat which happens to be an intensive manual handweaving process on a loom in which the yarns are resist-dyed before weaving.
Uday, who used to skate back in the day, was a devoted supporter of Haul Apparel, one of India’s first skate apparel brands, which unfortunately no longer exists.
Uday for Haul Apparel, 2015
Uday with his skateboard, 2015 (L) and with his Vans X Supreme Sk8 Hi, 2016 (R)
My love for this culture stems from punk rock music, and in 2016, when I used to live in Bangalore, I also gave skateboarding a try. In 2017, I had just started blogging about my passion for sneakers and fashion when I got an opportunity to shoot with Vans and they sent me two pairs of sneakers: the checkerboard slip-ons and the Old Skool 'black'. Amazingly, the sneakers are still in good condition, and we used my checkerboard slip-ons for this shoot.
Shivani for Haul Apparel, 2016 (L) and Vans Campaign, 2017(R)
Sneakers sent by Vans, 2017 (L), Skatepark by Extra Butter X Bombay SB (M), Finished Skatepark with Graffiti artists (R)
Last year, I was working at the New York based multi-brand sneaker retailer Extra Butter, and was part of inaugurating a new skatepark on Go Skate Day 2023 with Mumbai's very own skate community, Bombay SB.
The iconic checkerboard pattern, with its alternating black and white squares, has been a symbol of skate culture and casual style since the late 70s. Its bold, graphic look embodies a sense of rebellion and youthful energy. Our fabric selection captures that same spirit, offering a modern twist on a beloved classic. The handwoven nature of this checkerboard pattern adds to its uniqueness.
This Go Skate day, we are excited to drop this checkerboard pattern handwoven shirt. For this limited edition drop, we shot Aqdas, an emerging skateboarder from Bombay signed with Bombay SB, who uses skating as a way to discover himself. This collaboration embodies the essence of the checkerboard pattern, blending tradition with modernity and celebrating the enduring spirit of skate culture.
This shirt is now LIVE on our website.