‘Free Bird’: Bengaluru Central Prison launches apparel brand handcrafted by inmates

The Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru has launched “Free Bird”, a new brand of premium ready-made linen shirts stitched by prison inmates as part of an ambitious rehabilitation and skill-development initiative.

The Prison Department has unveiled the brand, describing it as an effort to equip inmates with marketable vocational skills while creating products that can compete with leading apparel brands in quality and craftsmanship.

Training conducted

A select group of inmates underwent professional garment-stitching training conducted by HCL, a Delhi-based company, under a partnership with the department. The shirts are made from high-quality linen sourced from Surat and carry the Karnataka State emblem, Gandaberunda, as the brand’s insignia.

The inaugural batch of shirts received an encouraging response, with the prison staff purchasing the entire stock within minutes of its launch, said sources.

The initiative extends beyond apparel. Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Prison Department, the HCL will also train inmates in bakery production. The department plans to introduce bakery products in the open market alongside the “Free Bird” clothing line.

Mobile sales van

Director-General of Police (Prisons) Alok Kumar said, “The department is planning to deploy a mobile sales van to market the shirts and bakery products at selected locations across Bengaluru, helping build a wider customer base.”

Officials noted that the prison’s stitching unit had been operational in the past but was shut down nearly a decade ago. Its revival marks a renewed focus on rehabilitation through meaningful employment and skill development.

The long-term goal is to establish “Free Bird” as a recognised brand, demonstrating that correctional institutions can create opportunities for transformation by enabling inmates to learn, earn, and prepare for a productive life after their release.