A traditional take on the statement tee would be the script-print; a scarf, fabric or tunic that features any particular script, which becomes a statement and conversation starter. I remember a Gulabo by Maheen Khan kurta that had the Urdu Haroof e Tahajji printed all over it. Then there was a Khaadi newsprint scarf flaunting some Jang headlines; that really spoke to me. Shamsha Hashwani once designed a tunic with Bangla poetry, tapping into the designer’s heritage. Sonya Battla regularly designs clothes paying tribute to Urdu poetry; the red Faiz kurta, featuring some of the poet’s most famous verses and designed as a capsule on his anniversary several years ago, is one of my personal favourites.

While most designers have turned to the safety of flora and fauna over the past couple of years, one upcoming online brand caught my eye for its name and for the ethos behind its conception. Manto.

Named after one of the most controversial South Asian writers, Manto (branded as @wearmanto on Instagram and www.shopmanto.com online) is brainchild of Salman Parekh and his wife Bismah Parekh. Over a year old, the brand is undoubtedly a labour of love, evident in its strong identity, customer relations and philosophy. The packaging, with little details on the item purchased, just proves how much thought and care goes into each design.

My first buy was a Sitaray Odhini that was completely covered in verses from Allama Iqbal’s poetry. It was a dupatta but I turned it into a kurta. Just recently I bought a silk scarf from the brand’s Qalb collection and have my eyes on the upcoming Khayaal collection, which actually speaks for itself.

The brand is slowly and steadily expanding and has also introduced loose fabric in solid colours as well as ready-to-wear in the same shades. The tagline, ‘Basic, not boring’ ensures clothes that are contemporary yet culture-appropriate, smart and stylish. There is a detailed size chart put in place but unfortunately the sizes aren’t as inclusive as one would hope. Most brands offer a looser XL size, because tunics need to be baggier in order to look better. One hopes that the designers will revise their sizing.

Other than that, Manto is a promising new brand, and definitely one to look out for.