How 100Hands is Redefining Indian Luxury Shirts for the Global Market

 

In the global luxury fashion landscape, where Italian and British brands have long dominated, Akshat Jain’s 100Hands is a remarkable story of Indian craftsmanship breaking through with unparalleled finesse and precision. Founded in 2015, this luxury shirt brand has redefined what it means to blend heritage, artisanal skill, and modern design—putting India’s textile legacy firmly on the world map.

A Legacy Rooted in Amritsar’s Textile Heritage:

Akshat Jain hails from a family with over 160 years of experience in cotton spinning and yarn trading in Amritsar, northern India. This deep-rooted connection to textiles, combined with his engineering background and years in investment banking in Amsterdam, inspired him to revive and elevate Indian craftsmanship through 100Hands. The brand’s name reflects its unique production process: each shirt passes through nearly 50 skilled artisans and requires about 35 hours of meticulous handwork, involving over 260 hands in total.

Craftsmanship That Challenges Global Luxury Norms:

100Hands is not just about handmade shirts; it is a quiet revolution in quality and precision. Unlike typical handmade garments that may tolerate imperfections, 100Hands pursues perfection with obsessive attention to detail. For example, while a traditional hand-stitched buttonhole might take 3-4 minutes, 100Hands invests 40 minutes to ensure flawless execution. The shirts feature 25 stitches per inch, hand-rolled hems, and hand-embroidered buttonholes, delivering durability and finesse that rival the finest machine-made shirts.

This uncompromising quality has earned 100Hands recognition by the Financial Times as one of the world’s best luxury shirtmakers and has attracted a discerning clientele, including celebrities like Sachin Tendulkar and Farhan Akhtar.

Overcoming Perceptions and Building a Global Brand:

One of the biggest challenges Akshat Jain faced was overcoming the global skepticism about luxury products “Made in India.” Historically, Indian craftsmanship was undervalued in luxury fashion, often overshadowed by European heritage brands. However, by focusing on transparency, ethical production, and unmatched quality, 100Hands has shifted this narrative.

The brand’s factory in India is a state-of-the-art, fully air-conditioned facility adhering to European standards, where artisans receive fair wages and benefits, including pensions. This ethical approach complements the brand’s commitment to sustainability by producing only what is needed, minimizing waste.

100Hands shirts are now sold in 192 high-end stores worldwide, including iconic retailers such as Harrods in London and Bergdorf Goodman in New York, symbolizing a significant milestone for Indian luxury craftsmanship on the international stage.

Why 100Hands Matters to Global Indians:

For the Global Indian community, 100Hands is more than a luxury shirt brand—it is a symbol of pride and a testament to India’s potential in the luxury market. It showcases how Indian artisanship, when combined with modern business acumen and global standards, can compete with the best in the world.

Akshat Jain’s journey from Amritsar’s textile mills to the shelves of Harrods is a powerful narrative of innovation, perseverance, and cultural pride. It inspires Indian entrepreneurs and artisans alike to dream bigger and redefine India’s place in global luxury. Find more Global Indian stories.