From school charts to London Fashion Week: ‘Adarsh Balak’ gets a style makeover

For generations, Indian kids have been idolized by the image of Adarsh Balak, a young boy portrayed in school charts. These charts depicted the perfect child, meticulously groomed with folded hands and a pressed shirt. Adarsh Balak became a visual representation of the ideal student, with many visual artists drawing inspiration from him.

His image evolved into an internet subculture, a parody of politics and middle-class behavior. Now, Adarsh Balak has made its way to London Fashion Week, thanks to Delhi-based label Lovebirds. The SS27 collection, titled India-IYKYK, pays homage to Indian iconography, drawing from everyday visuals and cultural references that resonate with those who grew up in India.

The brand explains that the Adarsh Balak was used to measure everyone's behavior against what an ideal child should be like. Lovebirds designers Amrita Khanna and Gursi Singh took the iconic school chart and transformed it into wearable art. They incorporated traditional Indian chintz patterns, with artisans reworking and re-layering them.

Handwoven silks like tussar, dupion, and brocade added an element of luxury. The collection also drew inspiration from street signage from the 1970-2000s era, as seen in a GIF from Aradhana Seth's book Sadak, which documented the fading art of hand-painted street signs in India.