The unfettered British designer, Alexander McQueen once said, “Fashion should be a form of escapism and not a form of imprisonment." Clothes reveal so much about the wearer if you choose to be unafraid of societal norms. Revolutionaries like singer-songwriter Freddie Mercury, millennial style icon Harry Styles, and many others have paved the way to dissolve the boundaries between gender and clothing.
The focus on non-binary clothing was overdue not just to blur the lines between feminine and masculine, but also to include gender non-conforming individuals into mainstream fashion. Today, homegrown labels celebrate the movement on the runway, with showcases like Gaurav Gupta's inclusive film ‘Name Is Love’ that opened India Couture Week 2020. Other contemporary labels like Dhruv Kapoor, Urvashi Kaur, Huemn and more are consistently presenting us with options of gender-fluid styles with every new drop. We rounded up the pieces you need to invest in with inputs from designers on why you should invest in these elevated basics.
“Clothes are the gateway to self-expression. As the world changes, so will our closets. And
that’s the moral of the story.” —Isha Ahluwalia
“Gender-neutral clothing should fit a certain criteria in terms of fabric, tailoring and shape.” —Savio Jon
“This piece is agnostic, so it fits most sizes and genders. It works as a dress, a T-shirt or an overlay.” —Akshat Bansal
“Bandhini as a fabric has been traditionally worn by all genders, especially in Gujarat and Rajasthan.” —Resham Karmchandani
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“The striped textile and silhouette have been inspired by pyjamas, and exude a relaxed aesthetic that isn’t dictated by gender.” —Urvashi Kaur
“The universal love for tie-dye makes this a unisex closet must-have. It brings joy and adds colour to anything. And that’s what fashion is about.” —Mriga Kapadiya
“The oversized pattern, shape and visual language used to design this product are not restricted to any particular gender.” —Pranav Misra
“As more brands are thinking critically and creatively about gender fluidity, inclusivity is no longer a phase in fashion.” —Sahib Dang
“It’s all about a ‘genderful’ approach to clothing. This hand-printed matching set can be worn by anyone on the gender spectrum.” —Dhruv Kapoor
