At The Imperial, a Piece of Wearable Art by T.K. Manoj Kumar Weaves Memory into Fashion
In the elegant halls of The Imperial Hotel, New Delhi, a soft hush fell over the crowd as a piece of cloth was unfurled—not just any cloth, but a limited-edition pashmina stole, hand-drawn with scenes from the heart of Old Delhi. As the folds cascaded open, so did the stories: crowded lanes, tangles of electric wires, signboards in Hindi and Urdu, and the aroma of generations past—all captured in black ink and delicate strokes. The stole read: “The Power of Paranthas.”
This wasn’t simply an accessory. It was wearable memory.
Created by T.K. Manoj Kumar, retired IAS officer and now an increasingly recognised artist, this stole is part of Dali by Comdez’s Past Forward initiative—a project aimed at reimagining Indian heritage through contemporary art and collectible design. Only 25 pieces of this stole exist, making it as rare as the emotions it evokes.
“It’s a love letter to Purani Dilli,” Manoj said while presenting the stole. “A place where stories drip from the walls and smells tell their own history.”
A Street, A Story, A Statement
The inspiration for the stole is Paranthe Wali Gali, the legendary food street nestled in the labyrinth of Old Delhi. But Manoj’s art doesn’t depict a postcard. Instead, it captures the pulse of the place—the chaos, charm, and everyday theatre of life.
Printed on fine pashmina, the artwork becomes a canvas you can wear. The interplay of texture and line work gives the stole a tactile richness: the hand-drawn facades feel lived-in, the crowds look in motion, and the typography is rooted in the local vernacular.
This is not just fashion—it is cultural storytelling at its most intimate.
The Unveiling at The Imperial
The launch evening, hosted by Dali by Comdez, was attended by a curated guest list of artists, editors, diplomats, and design thinkers. As Manoj unwrapped the stole before the audience, phones clicked, eyes widened, and conversation sparked around the idea of art that moves—literally.
Guests who received the stole walked away with more than a gift. They carried with them a piece of Delhi’s living soul, wrapped in softness and history.
The Art of Preservation
Dali by Comdez, based in Noida, is known for pushing the boundaries between art, design, and storytelling. Through Past Forward, they are championing projects that explore what it means to belong—to time, to tradition, and to change. This wearable art piece is part of a broader ethos: to collect what cannot be held, and to wear what cannot be forgotten.
As time accelerates, Past Forward asks us to slow down. To look back. To wrap ourselves, quite literally, in stories that matter.