These Sikh bros want to light up your life.
The Singh-Raud brothers of Manchester, England — Kush, 43, Major, 41, Jarnal, 40, and Archie, 35 — have visited New York City for seven holiday seasons with the goal of spreading holiday cheer with their matching light-up sweaters and American flag turbans.
The siblings also admit to having a business plan and “a bit of a fashion sense,” says Archie. They design a lot of their festive looks, so “this trip is part pleasure and part business.”
Now, the Singh-Rauds aim to evolve our nation’s infamous ugly sweaters into higher-end creations.
“They really are ugly,” Archie says of the US’s current seasonal sweater stock. “What we want to introduce is the more pleasant Christmas season sweater. Most of them will light up.”
Their biz-to-be is still unnamed. (“We’re still negotiating what we’re calling it,” Archie says.) So far, they have about 12 sets of matching sweaters — one of which showcases the NYC skyline.
For their December visit, the siblings wake up at 5 a.m. most days, heading out of their hotel rooms around 6 a.m., making sure they have as much time as possible to spread holiday happiness with their big spirits and jolly jumpers. This trip, they traverse the city and the tri-state area, relishing every moment of it.
Although Kush has faced racism in England, he says he’s never experienced it in NYC: If strangers stop him in regards to his religion, it’s usually just to recommend he go to a Sikh temple in Queens.
“We love the vibe, we love the city, we love the people,” says Kush. “New Yorkers are so much nicer and so receptive, and they’re just so helpful more than anything.”
The brothers are popular among street photographers, many of whom snap selfies and post them to Instagram. The foursome always stay at the same hotel — and sometimes get recognized by tour bus drivers. “It just feels so good,” Kush says, of the public recognition and support.
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