PUNJABI ROOH — AZAAD Edition Tee

Design Story — Rūh Azaad

Rooh is soul; azaad is free. Together they describe the specific Punjabi refusal to be owned — by empire, by caste expectation, by anyone's idea of how a person from this land should behave.

The Khanda anchors the design. Its geometry is exact: the double-edged sword at the centre for divine truth, the two kirpans of miri and piri for temporal and spiritual authority, and the chakkar — a circle with no beginning and no end — holding all three. We drew it to the correct proportions rather than the loosened versions that circulate online, because a symbol drawn carelessly is worn carelessly.

Printed large and centred, single colour, on heavyweight onyx. The emphasis is on clarity of edge; there is no gradient and no shadow anywhere in the artwork.

How to Wear It

Because the emblem is exact, treat this one plainly. Black on black, or against washed indigo. Boots or plain white trainers. The one piece of jewellery, if any, should be a kada.

This is the edition most often chosen by the diaspora — a way to carry the Khanda daily without wearing it as costume.

Fabric & GSM

280 GSM combed ring-spun cotton, 100% natural fibre. GSM — grams per square metre — is the single most honest number on a t-shirt spec sheet: high-street tees sit between 140 and 180 GSM, while this cloth is close to double that. You feel it as soon as the garment is out of the box.

The yarn is combed to strip out short fibres before spinning, which is why the surface is smooth rather than fuzzy and why the print sits flat instead of sinking into the weave. Cloth is bio-washed and pre-shrunk before cutting, so the measurements you read on the size chart are the measurements you keep.

Fit Guide

Cut as a true oversized silhouette: the shoulder seam is engineered to drop 3–5 cm past the natural shoulder, the body runs straight rather than tapered, and the hem lands at mid to low hip. Sleeves finish mid-bicep with deliberate volume.

Take your usual size for the intended boxy fit. Size up once if you want the exaggerated long-line look worn with wide-leg trousers, cargos or layered under a jacket. If you are between sizes and prefer a cleaner line, size down. The neck is ribbed and shoulder-to-shoulder taped, so it holds its shape through repeated wear.

Care Instructions

Machine wash cold at 30°C on a gentle cycle, inside out, with similar colours. Use a mild detergent — no bleach, no fabric softener, and no optical brighteners, which dull dark cotton over time.

Tumble dry low or, better, line dry in shade; direct sun will fade both the dye and the ink. Do not iron directly over the print — turn the garment inside out and press on low heat. Do not dry clean. Cared for this way, a 280 GSM tee holds its colour and shape for years rather than seasons.

Size Chart

Garment measurements taken flat, in centimetres. Allow ±2 cm tolerance.

Still unsure? Read the full BAAG size guide.