The £60,000 shirt for the 'modern day royal man' in India

An Indian designer has created a £60,000 shirt for one of the world's most exclusive niche markets – the "modern day royal man." According to designer Amitabh Chandel, a descendant of one of India's most prominent royal families, the modern prince wants a shirt made in silk, embroidered by hand and buttoned with 25 solitaire diamonds.

The forward-looking Nawab or Maharaja is no longer content bestriding his estates in a traditional full-length Achkan Nehru coat or the baggy cotton Kurta pyjama. He wants something more practical but encrusted with precious jewels for everyday wear. "I wanted to create a wearable dress for contemporary royals, a dress which can be used practically. Many designers have created royal Achkans, Bandgalas and Kurtas but they are not wearable. This is an attire for contemporary royal," he said.



"It is the silk, solitaire diamonds and gold buttons that make them costly," he explained. "These shirts have around 28 carats of diamonds. The price range starts from 50,000 Rupees (£620) to any imaginable figure but so far I have created an attire for 5 million Rupees (£62,000). The price depends on use of diamonds and gems." Although the collection is designed with the modern royal man in mind, Mr Chandel is prepared to sell his creation to commoners who can afford to spend more than the price of a Jaguar convertible on a shirt.

"Every parent treats his son like a king, my collection is something like an extension of this thought. One does not need to be a royal to wear or own this attire," he said. Delivery is free of charge within 200 miles, but beyond that customers will have to pay to have them flown to their doorstep, he said.