Chintan

By Meher Varma

One winter day in 2017, Chintan Maru, who happened to be walking
around Shahpur Jat, looked up and saw our wooden sign board,
climbed the stairs and knocked on our showroom door.
He was intrigued, but can’t remember why. Minutes after, he met
Rikki and a fast but solid friendship was formed over the stuff
both men consider to be life’s most important things: travel,
music, entrepreneurship, cultural mix ups and the possibilities
of doing humane business.
As you can imagine, not much was sold.

One winter day in 2017, Chintan Maru, who happened to be walking around Shahpur Jat, looked up and saw our wooden sign board, climbed the stairs and knocked on our showroom door. He was intrigued, but can’t remember why. Minutes after, he met Rikki and a fast but solid friendship was formed over the stuff both men consider to be life’s most important things: travel, music, entrepreneurship, cultural mix ups and the possibilities of doing humane business. As you can imagine, not much was sold.
In March 2019, we were in the beginning stages of designing our SS20 collection and in walks Chintan, fresh off a flight from Washington DC, wearing this incredible shirt that he found in a vintage store in Tokyo. The moment we set our eyes on it, we knew we had to borrow it! This shirt was everything we were looking for: a short, boxy fit with a convertible (regular or camp) collar and featured subtle stitch details that felt nostalgic without being dated.
We literally stole the shirt he was wearing off his back.

By 5pm, our dexterous masterji made a pattern from this perfect shirt. Chintan got his shirt back, and Kardo got a signature pattern.

  • CHINTAN thinks about:
  • how to prioritize health over health systems
  • turning the main room in his house into a dance    studio
  • what it means to be a good son, a good partner
  • durable clothing, and how khaki lasts forever
  • gender equality and more inclusive ways of living
  • brazilian spirit animals
  • what VS Naipul said about “a million mutinies”

“We are not pure anything. We are all mashups, and I am just another mashup.”

PLACES CHINTAN HAS LIVED
Ethiopia, South Africa, Nigeria, India, Nepal and The United States of America.
MANDINGA

pronounced manjinga is an awesome word that Chintan,

pronounced manjinga is an awesome word that Chintan,
who is a trained Capoeira dancer, taught us.

who is a trained Capoeira dancer, taught us.

Mandinga Ginga is something all good Capoeira dancers know to embody
in their movement. The closest translation is trickery or spell,
but that doesn’t quite capture it. This definition, that it’s
“the hidden power one has to disguise their real intention and
trick their opponent” comes closer.
Chintan grew up
to not be attached to material things
In kutch
In a Jain household
Chintan the adult
Has got a funny accent
And loves to talk to people who have funny accents.
And this is one that he heard when he was randomly,
one day walking around the village of Shahpur Jat
Outside a shop
That would name their favourite shirt after him.