Indian Man Commissions a $230,000 Shirt Made of Gold

In the Indian city of Pune, 42-year-old finance broker Datta Phuge has had a shirt custom-stitched from gold, combining his investment with a desire to make a bold statement.

“I am a Maratha [a person belonging to a warrior caste]. Marathas have fascination for wearing golden ornaments,” stated Phuge. “I am no different”.

As reported by Business Insider, gold flowerings were stitched to a velvet shirt, much like chain mail might be linked together. Weighing 3.5 kilograms (7.7 pounds) by itself, the shirt was stitched from 22 karat gold by Ranka Jewellers. It took 17 days to complete the shirt.

Phuge has also taken to adorning the shirt with additional golden ornamentation including chains, bracelets, rings and necklaces. Although the shirt is new, he has been wearing the ornaments, weighing about 6.5 kilograms (14.3 pounds) for several years. Phuge has referred to himself as a “10 kilogram gold man,” referring to the combined weight of his attire. He has stated that he plans to wear the precious metal ensemble permanently for the rest of his life.

“Unlike many, I have no passion for high-end luxury vehicles like Audi or purchasing something else that is fancy,” Phuge told reports by phone from Pune. “I had money and wanted to invest in gold. Even while investing in gold, I wanted to do something that would earn me the title of being a gold man. Then the idea of stitching myself a golden shirt came to me when I visited a jewelry shop a month ago.”

“Though there is gold on its exteriors, it is stitched in such a way that it can be folded and kept inside a shelf like any other shirt.

"I know I am not the best looking man in the world," Phuge continued, "but surely no woman could fail to be dazzled by this shirt?"

Phuge, who owns over 22 pounds of gold in the form of 10 gold chains, six bracelets and 25 rings, said he plans to add a phone case to his collection.

After making a sizable profit from the sale of two acres of land, and from other financial investments, Phuge stated that he has been reinvesting his proceeds in gold.

The 22 karat gold shirt is currently valued at $230,000.