Sewing for gold: Indian businessman flaunts his wealth by having 4kg shirt made from precious metal... but needs bodyguards whenever he wears it
- Pankaj Parakh commissioned the shirt that weighs more than four kilos
- Made his fortune establishing a multi-million pound textile business in India
An
Indian textile magnate who made a fortune from his clothing empire is
making sure the rest of the world knows about his success - by having a
shirt made out of pure gold.
Although he left school without any qualifications Pankaj Parakh created a multi-million pound textile business in India.
And
now, to celebrate his upcoming 45th birthday on Friday, he has
commissioned the solid gold shirt that weighs more than four kilos.
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An Indian textile magnate who made a
fortune from his clothing empire is making sure the rest of the world
knows about his success - by having a shirt made out of pure gold
Although he
left school without any qualifications Pankaj Parakh still managed to
make a fortune after establishing a multi-million pound textile business
in India
He said: 'I
wanted to wear something special when I say my thanks for my success at a
thanksgiving visit to the Siddhivinayak Temple of the Hindu elephant
god in Mumbai.'
And after paying just £127,000 to buy the gold and have it turned into a golden shirt, he thinks he got a good deal.
According
to local media the gold shirt has really got him noticed as he marched
along the streets of his home in Yeola, 260 km from the city of Mumbai.
He says he gets both admiring looks from women and envious looks from men.
He said: 'I never go out with less than two to three kilos of gold jewellery.
And now, to celebrate his upcoming
45th birthday on Friday, he has commissioned the solid gold shirt that
weighs more than four kilos
'I
have always been fascinated with gold since I was five-years-old and
studying in school. And over the years that interest has become a real
passion. So it was logical that I would want to make my 45th birthday a
golden affair.
'In
fact even on my wedding 23 years ago a lot of people said it was
embarrassing that I was wearing more gold than my bride, but I just love
the Royal metal.'
The
shirt that has seven solid gold buttons is due to be officially
modelled by the clothing magnate on Friday, but he tried it on in
advance after collecting it from the Shanti Jewellers at Parel in
Mumbai, where a team of around 20 craftsmen collectively spent 3,200
hours over the past two months to 'stitch' it together.
The
gold used in the shirt has an 18-22 carat purity, without any other
metals, and he added: 'Before the taxman starts coming round, I can
guarantee that every bit is properly recorded in my company accounts.'
Last year wealthy Datta Phuge has
splashed out £14,000 on a solid gold shirt to make sure he's a 24 karat
hit with women in central India
Despite
being made of gold the shirt has been so carefully made that it is as
flexible as a normal shirt, he claims, and also just as comfortable
because there is a thin cloth lining the inside.
He
said: 'It is easily washed and can be hung up to dry just like a normal
piece of clothing, and a good a lifetime guarantee with it so that if
it's torn or damaged it will quickly be repaired.'
After
leaving school early before graduating he had thrown all of his efforts
into developing the family garments business in Yeola, a town of some
60,000.
He
is married to wife Pratibha and has sons Siddharth, 22, and Rahul, 19,
both now in college, and added: 'I am the only one in the family that
seems so passionate about gold, the rest of my family is neither
impressed or interested in gold. They just accept that it's my passion
and it's part of our domestic life. My more extended family however
think I'm a bit weird but I guess that's families.'
He
is a local politician himself and despite criticism that he flaunts his
wealth among people who are poorer, he is actively involved in
community projects and recently funding 120 operations for polio suffers
at the Narayan Seva Sansthan Hospital of Udaipur in Rajasthan.
'I
spend at least a week each year offering voluntary services at the
1,000-bedded hospital, the biggest and best for polio treatment in
India. I also arrange for any requirements of the poor patients like
food, medicines, surgery and blankets, from which I get immense
satisfaction,' Parakh said.
And
he added: 'I admit you need to be brave to wear a shirt like this,
brave and also in possession of a gun like my fully licensed revolver
which I also carry with me every time I go out.'
And
the cost of the gold shirt is reportedly a fraction of what he has
splashed out to make sure the birthday party is a spectacular affair,
with hundreds of guests including Maharashtra tourism minister Chhagan
Bhujbal of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and around a dozen MPs
from various parties and Indian celebrities.
Cannot be better proof of some people's folly!
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Sewing for gold: Indian businessman flaunts his wealth by having 4kg shirt made from precious metal... but needs bodyguards whenever he wears it
ReplyDeletePankaj Parakh commissioned the shirt that weighs more than four kilos
Made his fortune establishing a multi-million pound textile business in India