Hey everyone,
When you live and work 12,000 km away from the Lower East Side, it’s hard to stay in touch with friends and keep up with what’s new in the neighborhood. That’s why we’re launching this weekly newsletter—to connect our circle of friends and creatives on both sides of the world. We hope it helps you get to know our team and their personal styles a little better. You’ll also be the first to receive short reads on what’s new with the brand, interviews with our creative friends and local artisans, and a lot more.
Thanks for signing up.
It’s been just over a month since we opened our store at 61 Orchard St., and it’s been kind of amazing. We’ve spent the last four years growing the business through working with multibrand stores. While that gave us credibility, the wholesale model feels broken. We ship coats in August and shorts in February. The payment cycles are challenging, and it’s a problem we’ll never fully solve. At some point, you just have to take the plunge and go direct. It’s high risk, high reward.
In the week leading up to our opening, a tariff crisis hit. Our shipments were stuck in customs for weeks, and it genuinely felt like the worst time to open. And yet, the first month has been unreal. If we can maintain this momentum, the brand has the potential to reach a whole new stratosphere.
This store has allowed us to connect with our community and understand how people interact with our product in real time. The value of our garments becomes obvious when you hold them—there’s a clear level of human effort in every piece. Most people entering the shop have been cool but sometimes dealing with customers (or a certain kind of guy coming into the shop) can be a Buddhist exercise in Patience; but I think we’re finally getting a hang of it. Or at least we’re trying to.
For this first dispatch, I wanted to introduce you to our top Researchers in New York and Delhi to see what they’re into so that next time you make a trip out to either, maybe we can hook you up with some hidden gems. Meet Ravi and Geoffrey, they run the LES store.
Last week, Ravi somehow ended up in GVC magazine wearing our Kantha Zip Hoodie and Silk Big Shorts. Both pieces are online now, but if you're in the city, swing by 61 Orchard St. and say hi!
As a way for our readers to get to know the team better, we asked Ravi and Geoff to share their favorite spots to eat and shop vintage in New York:
Ravi: Tiptara! It's small and unassuming, but has the best Thai food I've ever in E Broadway. It's charming without being pretentious -- perfect for dinner with friends or a casual date. Their curry puffs and roti massaman are essential orders every time I go. For vintage, Luke's has some of the best vintage curation I've ever seen. I'm insanely picky, and would buy most of their selection if I could- and I do spend a lot of time looking at each piece in there.
Goeff: I love Taku Sando, it’s a Japanese sandwich spot in Greenpoint and for vintage, a spot like Front General does the job.
Over in South Delhi, at our flagship in Greater Kailash II’s M-Block Market, Divyanshu has been holding things down since we opened in March 2024. The neighbourhood is packed with some of the city’s best restaurants and bars.
Although, the summer heat has kicked off prematurely as it does every year in India, to keep cool, Divysnshu is wearing our loose fit Gauze Weave Shirt along with our staple Kantha Mirror Shorts.
As a Delhi native, I can vouch for Divyanshu’s go-to spot: Carnatic Café. It’s your reliable choice for home-style South Indian tiffins—high turnover, quick service, no fluff, just in and out.
Divyanshu: If you get the chance to stop by, don’t miss the Malleshwaram Dosa - a thick, fluffy yet crispy dosa smeared with tangy gunpowder spice and white butter. They recently launched an ice cream menu too—homemade with natural ingredients, fruits, and spices.Hard to pick a favorite, but the Palm Jaggery and Ratnagiri Mango with Roasted Sesame, or the Tender Coconut and Black Pepper with Cardamom are unreal.
We hope you save these reccs to your travel itinerary for when you next visit New York or Delhi. But for now, thanks for reading our first newsletter! Stay subscribed to our Substack where we’ll share more interviews, travelogues, and brand updates.
