The Story
This label is a portrait in the grand manner, shrunk to matchbox scale and all the more striking for it. An Indian maharaja sits for his likeness in a finely tied turban topped with a jeweled aigrette, a heavy beaded necklace at his throat, his moustache and features rendered in precise dark engraving against a vivid pink ground. "Indian Maharaja" arcs across the top in a banner, "Made in" runs down the left edge and "Japan" down the right, and "Safety Matches" anchors the base. The whole composition has the feel of a royal portrait medallion, the sitter centered and dignified, the bright pink ground lifting the engraving into something genuinely regal.
The label was made for the Indian market, where Japanese match manufacturers competed hard through the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The figure of the maharaja was a natural choice: a symbol of wealth, authority and splendor that resonated immediately with Indian consumers, and one that lent a humble box of matches a touch of borrowed grandeur. Japanese designers produced many labels aimed at the subcontinent featuring rulers, deities and emblems of status, and the maharaja portrait was among the most dignified of the type, treating its subject with real care and craft.
On the tee the label reads as a bold portrait panel, the pink ground vivid against the shirt and the engraved detail of the maharaja holding up cleanly at chest height.
Who Is It For
This tee is for pop art lovers, vintage fashion enthusiasts and anyone drawn to bold portrait graphics with real history behind them. It suits someone who appreciates the pink-and-ink punch of the design, the regal subject and the layered story of a Japanese-made label produced for the Indian market. The portrait reads boldly from a distance and rewards a much closer look.
Available Colors
Black: On black the label's pink ground reads with full intensity and the dark engraving of the maharaja holds maximum contrast. The pink glows against the deep dark shirt and the portrait commands the chest. The most graphic reading of the pink colorway.
About the Collection
Every design in the Ichinichi Collection is sourced from a personal archive of original Japanese matchbox labels spanning 1880 to 1940. The Maharaja in Pink label was produced for the Indian market, where Japanese manufacturers competed by printing label art tailored to local tastes and aspirations. The dignified portrait treatment and the vivid pink ground make it one of the most striking portrait labels in the archive.
Product Details
Material: 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton. Weight: 4.2 oz per square yard, lightweight and breathable. Fit: Unisex retail fit, crew neckline, ribbed knit collar. Construction: Tapered shoulders, dual side seams for shape retention. Label: Tear-away, minimal skin irritation. Ethics: Fair Labor Association, Platinum WRAP certified, no sweatshop. Sleeve prints and neck labels use DTF printing where applicable.
Size Guide
|
S |
M |
L |
XL |
2XL |
3XL |
| Width |
18.00 |
20.00 |
22.00 |
24.00 |
26.00 |
28.00 |
| Length |
28.00 |
29.00 |
30.00 |
31.00 |
32.00 |
33.00 |
| Sleeve |
8.90 |
9.20 |
9.50 |
9.70 |
10.00 |
10.40 |
All measurements in inches. Size tolerance: plus or minus 1.50 inches across all measurements.
Fabric blends vary by color. Ash and Heather Prism: 99% cotton and 1% polyester. Heather and Solid Blend: 52% cotton and 48% polyester. Athletic Heather and Black Heather: 90% cotton and 10% polyester.
