Chess champ Viswanathan Anand’s son, Sai Akhil, floats clothing collection

Viswanathan Anand with Sai Akhil
| Picture Credit score: Particular Association

Sai Akhil Anand sees patterns in all places. On the street. And, on animals.

“I as soon as regarded keenly on the stripes of the zebra and tiger and noticed patterns on them,” remembers Akhil, in a telephonic chat, “This made me very fascinated about artwork and patterns.”

The 13-year-old, son of Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand, has lately ventured right into a collaboration with ethnic model Hastha to deliver conventional Indian artwork varieties to life in a brand new assortment of hand-block printed clothes. This limited-edition assortment is Akhil’s interpretation of conventional Indian motifs, that includes prints of horses, fish, cows, peacocks and lord Ganesha. “Divya Vigneshwaran, who runs Hastha Basis, noticed me speaking at a competition as soon as and advised that I discover hand-block printing on garments,” he says.

The results of that dialog was Hastha x Akhil, which options, amongst different issues, theAkhil Tee, a cotton T-shirt printed with conventional hand-block methods.

For the gathering’s picture shoot, Akhil enlisted shut household and associates as fashions. His father (chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand),mom (Aruna Anand), grandfather and artwork instructor Diana Satish characteristic within the images. “The shoot was a contented expertise and I beloved that includes within the images with my members of the family,” says Akhil, who already has a web based platform (Akhilisms on Instagram) that makes his paintings accessible as giftable objects.

The proceeds of Hastha x Akhil will go in direction of Hastha Basis, a non-profit organisation that empowers adults with neurological challenges by the artwork of hand block printing.

“I hope to work on mugs and books subsequent yr,” he says.

Aside from authoring The HEart of Math, during which he explores patterns in each day life, Akhil – at the moment learning in Class VIII at Chennai’s APL International – can also be keenly fascinated about gymnastics, yoga and badminton. He hopes to turn into an artist sooner or later, with a solo artwork exhibition being deliberate for June 2025. He additionally mentions BR Ambedkar as one in every of his life inspirations. “I used to be actually touched studying his youth tales and his need to work on the Structure of India,” says Akhil.

And, when he’s not busy with artwork or studying, Akhil does take pleasure in a game of chess together with his celebrity father. “I’m studying the sport. I’m at the moment learning openings just like the London System and the hyper accelerated dragon.” So, who wins at dwelling: Anand or Akhil? “Effectively, no one wins,” he laughs.

To take a look at this limited-edition assortment, go to hastha.co.in