Comet's Aeres Ajrakh sneakers put hand-block-printed Kutch fabric on your feet for ₹5,899
Indian sneaker brand Comet has launched limited-edition Aeres sneakers made with real hand-block-printed Ajrakh fabric from Kutch, in Cream, Red and Black, at ₹5,899.
Indian sneaker label Comet has put a 4,000-year-old textile on your feet. Its new Aeres Ajrakh drop wraps the brand's retro court silhouette in real, hand-block-printed Ajrakh fabric from Kutch, Gujarat, and it comes in three colourways: Cream, Red and Black. Price: ₹5,899 (MRP, inclusive of taxes) on Comet's own website, with free shipping across India. Comet calls it a "Designer Special" with limited pairs, and the Cream pair has already sold out.
This is not a digital print pretending to be craft. Comet uses original Ajrakh cloth, and according to the brand each print takes about 21 days to make, going through several rounds of block printing, washing and drying before it ever meets a shoe last.
What exactly is Ajrakh?
Ajrakh is one of India's oldest textile traditions: a GI-tagged craft from Kutch where wooden blocks are carved by hand, dipped in natural dyes and pressed onto cloth, layer after layer. The result is a deep, slightly irregular pattern that no factory printer can quite fake. Because the colours are natural, Comet warns that a little colour variation and bleeding is normal, which, frankly, is part of the charm. No two pairs will look identical.
The shoe underneath the print
The base is the Aeres, a low-top, court-inspired shape with a vintage-style T-toe panel. Here is what you get:
- Upper: handloom Ajrakh fabric with premium faux leather; the Red and Cream pairs add faux suede and a corduroy "shooting star" detail
- Comfort: soft foam insole and a cushioned EVA midsole
- Grip: a 100% natural rubber outsole
- Sizes: UK 3 to UK 12
- Packaging: a collector's box inspired by Ajrakh patterns and colours
- Made in: India
Which colourway should you pick?
Black is the quiet one: the Ajrakh reads as texture from a distance and pattern up close, so it works with dark denim, black chinos or even a bandhgala on a wedding night when you refuse to wear formal shoes. Red is the loud one, built for plain white tees, cream trousers and anyone who wants their shoes to start the conversation. Cream is the easiest to wear with everything, which probably explains why it vanished first; Comet says it will bring back a few pairs by the end of November.
Buying and care tips
The collection is sold on Comet's official website, with delivery across India in three to five days and free returns or exchanges within seven days of delivery. Size availability is patchy because these are limited pairs, so if your size is in stock, don't overthink it.
Look after them like the handmade things they are. Brush off dust with a dry cloth, keep them away from rain and puddles (the suede on the Red and Cream pairs hates water), and let them air dry naturally, never under a hair dryer or harsh sun.
The FHM take
Most "heritage" sneakers are a story on the box and a print on the shoe. This one actually carries the craft, at a price that sits well below what the big global brands charge for their own limited collaborations. At ₹5,899, you are getting a properly Indian talking point for your feet, made in India, from a homegrown brand. If you want one pair that works at a mehendi, a gig and a Sunday brunch, the Black is our pick. Just don't wear them to a Holi party.
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