Archive · 27 May 2025
MAP-Bengaluru Exhibition Reveals Textile Label History and Branding in India
Imagine old-timey advertisements on fabric!
An exhibition in Bengaluru shows off colorful labels, called 'tikats,' that were on clothes sold in India long ago.
These labels, made in England, were like the trademarks of their time, showing pictures of elephants, maharajas, and more.
The exhibition shows how businesses created these labels, got them approved, and used them to sell their products.
It's like a peek into how people made and sold things, with artists and printers working together to create images that represented Indian culture and society.
These labels tell stories of the past.
MAP-Bengaluru hosts 'Ticket Tika Chaap', an exhibition showcasing textile labels from the Indo-British textile trade.
The exhibition features 400 textile labels known as 'tikats', 'tikas', or 'chaaps' which were used as trademarks.
These labels, designed and printed in England, carried diverse visuals reflecting society, culture, and rituals.
The exhibition includes correspondences between merchants and printers, offering insights into the trademarking process.
The exhibition is open at MAP, Bengaluru, until November 2025.
- Who
- Curated by Shrey Maurya and Nathaniel Gaskell, the exhibition features labels from the Indo-British textile trade.
- What
- An exhibition displaying textile labels ('tikats', 'tikas', or 'chaaps') used during the Indo-British textile trade.
- When
- Ongoing, until November 2025.
- Where
- Museum of Art And Photography (MAP) in Bengaluru
- Why
- To showcase the history of branding and advertising within the context of the Indo-British textile trade and explore the societal reflections present in these labels.
- Location
- Museum of Art And Photography (MAP) in Bengaluru
- Exhibition Name
- 'Ticket Tika Chaap, The Art of the Trademark in Indo-British Textile Trade'
- Number of Labels on Display
- 400
- Curators
- Shrey Maurya and Nathaniel Gaskell
- Time Period
- Late 19th to mid-20th centuries
- Exhibition Duration
- Until November 2025