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The fashion world is just waking up to the fact that Christopher Nolan, the famed director, wore an ajrak printed tie to the premiere of his film The Odyssey in New York City on July 14.

The custom silk tie was by New York-based Indian menswear designer Aahan Tandon, who also shared the news on his Instagram page.

The tie featured the distinctive geometrical shapes synonymous with ajrak in light blue and red. Ajrak, the form of block-printing indigenous to Sindh, can also be found in India, particularly among the Khatri community in Gujarat’s Kutch.

In Pakistan, we’re well aware of how important ajrak is to Sindhis.

While speaking about this importance, Nandita Bhavnani, the Indian author of Sindhnama, said, “Today, the Ajrak of Sindh has become a symbol of cultural identity: it is Sindh’s signature textile.”

The film The Odyssey features a star-studded cast, including Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Elliot Page, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Lupita Nyong’o, Himesh Patel and Mia Goth, among many others. An adaptation of the ancient Greek epic poem, the film follows Odysseus as he embarks on a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca following the Trojan war.

The film released in cinemas around the world on July 17.