Bengaluru: On 15 August, India’s Independence Day, Satchidanand Joshi walked into a small store in Pune and left with bags of t-shirts, magnets, and rocket models. These weren’t run-of-the-mill tchotchkes, but ISRO-approved memorabilia from artisan craft seller Indic Inspirations. That was in 2021, the year India’s space organisation started collaborating with the private sector—a group of nine startups—to sell ISRO-themed merchandise, showcase its “achievements and laurels”, and “appeal to the younger generation”.
Today, there are over two dozen registered ISRO merchandisers in India, each with its own distinct take on the theme. Ahmedabad’s Ankur Hobbies sells science-based toys and now has several with the ISRO logo, including DIY kits for telescopes, Mangalyaan, and PSLV models. Hyderabad’s Dhruva Space taps into spaceflight culture with RBF tags, mission patches, and calendars.
Mumbai’s Black White Orange’s A47 brand focuses on trend-driven merch with astronaut jackets, Aditya L1 iron-on badges, enamel pins, and holographic stickers. Tirupur-based EENGN, also known as Tirupur Wear, sells ISRO tee shirts and hoodies. And Pune’s Indic Inspirations blends traditional craftsmanship with cosmic designs, from Channapatna-style wooden rockets and keychains to die-cast Chandrayaan-3 miniatures.
Channapatna-style rocket-shaped wooden pencil box made by Indic Inspirations | Photo by special arrangement “We decided at around 2020 that, just like NASA d.
