Celebrating Chennai’s Spirit Through Art and Fashion: The Story of Pattinam Prints
Introduction: The Cultural Heartbeat of Chennai
Chennai, often referred to as the cultural capital of India, is a city with a rich tapestry of history, heritage, and creativity. From its classical dance forms to its bustling street markets, the city radiates an energy that captivates all who visit. One of the ways in which Chennai’s unique spirit is being celebrated is through the intersection of art and fashion. Pattinam Prints honors Chennai’s culture. It unites local artists, artisans, and fashion designers. This effort keeps the city’s heritage alive with creative and sustainable fashion.
Pattinam Prints is a vibrant project that captures Chennai’s spirit. It celebrates the city’s rich culture all year with art-inspired fashion.
The Birth of Pattinam Prints
Pattinam Prints started from a talk about Madras’s rich culture. It aims to keep that heritage alive for future generations. Divya Vigneshwaran is the founder of Hastha, or hasthahappiness. She focuses on hand-block printed clothing. When she and her collaborators discussed how they could celebrate Chennai’s heritage, the idea of Pattinam Prints was born.
“We wanted a way to celebrate the spirit of Madras every day, not just during the festival season. The idea was to create something that reflected our love for this city’s cultural legacy,” says Divya.
Pattinam Prints highlights motifs, symbols, and stories that define Chennai. They showcase these elements in creative designs on different fabrics and fashion items. From street murals to traditional patterns, the project works to preserve and share these beloved aspects of the city’s soul.
Capturing Madras Motifs: A Symbol of Heritage
Pattinam Prints draws inspiration from Thirupurasundari Sevvel. She is an architect and social activist involved with Nam Veedu Nam Oor Nam Kadhai, a social initiative. Her aim was to bring out Madras motifs—symbols that encapsulate the heart of the city.
“I wanted to capture the city’s spirit,” says Ms. Thirupurasundari. “I began with its iconic entry stone, the ‘0’ of the city. I added the kattumaram, a Tamil fishing boat. I also added the temple umbrellas from Chintadripet, the lighthouse, and the alli flower from Thiru-alli-keni.” These motifs are an essential part of the Madras landscape and culture.
The project also sought to celebrate architectural and natural wonders unique to Chennai. The alli flower is linked to Chennai’s temples. The Chennai Lighthouse shows the city’s maritime history.
Pattinam Prints honors these elements, letting people wear Chennai’s heritage. They preserve and share it in a modern and accessible way.
A Creative Collaboration: Bringing the Vision to Life
In bringing Pattinam Prints to fruition, a collective effort emerged, combining talents from different spheres of art and fashion. The collaboration included artists, illustrators, designers, and fashion groups, among them Anchored Hues, Flavours of Madras, and Paper Thundugal. Together, they worked to transform the Madras motifs into wearable works of art, including veshtis, sarees, T-shirts, stoles, and even umbrellas.
The project celebrates Chennai in a myriad of ways. Whether it’s through a T-shirt featuring the kattumaram, or a saree embroidered with temple umbrellas, each design carries a story about the city’s heritage.
Ms. Divya emphasizes that each creation is carefully designed to ensure that it is not only a celebration of Chennai’s spirit but also offers a high-quality, stylish, and functional product. “We wanted these pieces to be timeless. Something people can wear proudly, knowing they’re supporting the city’s culture and its artisans,” she shares.
Sustainable Fashion for a Cause
What sets Pattinam Prints apart from other fashion initiatives is its emphasis on sustainability and social responsibility. All veshtis and T-shirts are printed by adults with disabilities, helping provide a sustainable income model for them. The clothing items are designed using sustainable block printing methods, making the production process environmentally friendly and socially impactful.
Divya explains, “The printing is done by skilled artisans who have been trained, and the proceeds from these items go to the Hastha Foundation, which works to support the welfare of individuals with disabilities.”
This initiative is a perfect example of how art and fashion can not only preserve culture but also contribute to positive social change. Every purchase made from Pattinam Prints supports both the local community of artisans and people with disabilities.
Madras-Themed Art and Accessories: Beyond Fashion
The influence of Madras extends beyond just fabric and fashion with the inclusion of Madras-themed accessories. One such contribution comes from Aafreen Fathima S.K., a full-time architect and artist known as Ninetyeight.madras.
Aafreen’s Madras-inspired fusion tote bags have become a sought-after item in the local community. Aafreen’s design concept for these bags was inspired by something that encapsulates Chennai’s spirit: the auto rickshaw.
“I’ve always found the auto rides in Chennai dreamy – the rush of wind, the yellows of the auto, and the endless blue skies. It reminded me of the Starry Night by Van Gogh, which led to my idea for the auto ride under the Starry Night concept for tote bags,” Aafreen shares.
What started as a small project during the pandemic has since turned into an artistic venture that celebrates Chennai’s auto culture, reimagined through art. Aafreen’s hand-painted tote bags have gained popularity for their vibrant designs and their homage to the city’s iconography.
As Aafreen looks to expand her vision, she is merging more Chennai landmarks with the Starry Night theme, including famous spots like Higginbothams on Mount Road and the Armenian Church in George Town.
“I want to continue celebrating the heritage of Madras through art that is accessible to everyone,” says Aafreen.
Expanding the Artistic Vision
Pattinam Prints is far more than a one-off initiative—it is an ongoing celebration of the city’s creative energy and heritage. The artists involved are continuously exploring ways to merge traditional Chennai motifs with contemporary art forms, ensuring that the city’s cultural story continues to evolve.
In the future, the collaborative team hopes to expand Pattinam Prints beyond just clothing and accessories, incorporating more art pieces, installations, and even interactive experiences that allow people to engage with Chennai’s cultural legacy in new and innovative ways.
FAQs About Pattinam Prints and Chennai’s Cultural Fashion Scene
Pattinam Prints items can be purchased through local pop-up stores, fashion boutiques, or online platforms. Additionally, you can visit Hastha’s website for more information on their collection.
The designs use eco-friendly and sustainable block printing techniques, and all profits go toward supporting the Hastha Foundation, which promotes the welfare of people with disabilities.
Adults with disabilities are employed to print the veshtis and T-shirts, providing them with sustainable income opportunities. The project also supports local artisans who are skilled in hand-block printing.
Apart from Divya Vigneshwaran and Thirupurasundari Sevvel, the project has seen collaborations with artists and designers such as Aafreen Fathima (Ninetyeight.madras) and various groups like Anchored Hues and Flavours of Madras.
By purchasing Pattinam Prints products, you directly contribute to the empowerment of local communities, while also celebrating Chennai’s culture. You can also volunteer or donate to the Hastha Foundation.
Conclusion: A Vibrant Celebration of Chennai’s Spirit
In conclusion, Pattinam Prints is not just a fashion initiative—it is a celebration of Chennai’s rich heritage, a tribute to its art, architecture, and culture. Through creative collaborations, sustainable practices, and social responsibility, this initiative continues to empower local artists, celebrate Madras motifs, and create a stronger sense of community.
By purchasing a product from Pattinam Prints, you’re not just acquiring a beautiful piece of fashion or art; you’re supporting the culture of Chennai, its people, and its timeless stories.
So, wear the spirit of Chennai proudly with Pattinam Prints—and be a part of something larger than just a piece of fabric. You’re carrying the essence of the city wherever you go.
Chennai city’s vibrant spirit thrives around the clock, with artists celebrating their love for the city across various mediums, from canvas to fabric. A unique initiative, Pattinam Prints, has emerged to honor Chennai’s rich heritage year-round.
The Birth of Pattinam Prints
Divya Vigneshwaran, the founder of Hastha (hasthahappiness), specializes in hand-block printed clothing. She explains, “While discussing the rich heritage of Madras, we wanted a way to celebrate it all year long. That’s how Pattinam prints was born.”
Capturing Madras Motifs
The concept was sparked by architect Thirupurasundari Sevvel from Nam Veedu Nam Oor Nam Kadhai, a social initiative. “I want to bring out the Madras motifs, starting with the city’s entry stone, which marks ‘0’, the kattumaram, temple umbrellas from Chintadripet, the lighthouse, and the alli flower of Thiru-alli-keni among other symbols,” says Ms. Thirupurasundari.
A Creative Collaboration
To bring this vision to life, a creative collaboration emerged, featuring illustrators, stylists, and groups like Anchored Hues, Flavours of Madras, and Paper Thundugal. Together, they transformed these motifs into a range of clothing items, including veshtis, sarees, T-shirts, stoles, and even umbrellas. even you check the artists on thetalentsquare.com
Sustainable Fashion for a Cause
“What sets these apart is the use of sustainable block printing,” says Ms. Thirupurasundari. “The veshtis and T-shirts are printed by adults with disabilities, creating a sustainable income model for them, while skilled artisans print the sarees,” adds Ms. Divya. All profits from this initiative go towards the Hastha Foundation, which supports the welfare of persons with disabilities. “This collection, featuring 16 Madras-inspired motifs, is all for the love of the city.”
Madras-Themed Art and Accessories
In addition to fabric, there are Madras-themed fusion tote bags designed by Aafreen Fathima S.K., a full-time architect and artist known as Ninetyeight.madras. “Taking auto rides have always been dreamy to me – the wind, yellows of the auto, and blue skies, just like the starry night. That’s how the tote bag concept of an auto ride under Van Gogh’s starry night came about,” Ms. Aafreen shares. She hand-paints these tote bags, having started this project during the pandemic.
Fun Facts About Chennai’s Heritage
- Chennai is home to one of the oldest port cities in the world—the Port of Chennai, which has been in continuous use for over 2,000 years.
- The first-ever Indian film was produced in Chennai (then Madras) in 1916. The city is still the heart of Tamil cinema, also known as Kollywood.
- The Marina Beach in Chennai is the longest urban beach in India and the second-longest in the world.
Expanding the Artistic Vision
Pattinam Prints is far more than a one-off initiative—it is an ongoing celebration of the city’s creative energy and heritage. The artists are always looking for ways to blend traditional Chennai designs with modern art. This keeps the city’s cultural story growing.
In the future, the team wants to grow Pattinam Prints. They plan to add more than clothing and accessories. The goal is to include art pieces, installations, and interactive experiences. These will help people connect with Chennai’s cultural legacy in fresh, exciting ways.
