The Indian Fashion Brand Using Transgender Models to Break Down Stigmas
An Indian fashion designer is breaking down stereotypes and challenging the way people in India see transgender women with a line of saris modeled by trans women.
Designer Sharmila Nair has named her collection Mazhavil, the local word for rainbow. “Since the LGBT community is represented by the rainbow flag,” Nair told Mashable, “I thought, why not give my collection the same shades and use all the colors of the rainbow.”
Made under her brand Red Lotus, the saris are made from Hubli cotton, which has been dyed with rich natural colors, and paired with printed blouses.
After reading a Facebook post about the Kerala government’s groundbreaking equal-rights policy for transgender people, Sharmila was inspired to do her part for inclusion.
Teaming with the transgender rights organization Queerela, she was put in touch with rookie models Maya Menon and Gowri Savithri, who, despite being nervous about taking part at first, were ultimately thrilled to be involved in the project.
Maya told International Business Times: ‘I had always loved wearing a sari, but couldn’t do so in public for a long time. This shoot was extra-special to me.’
Sharmila now hopes the campaign will help to humanize and raise the profile of trans women in India.
“It should really open up more opportunities for transgender [people],” she told Fusion. “People should break the ice.”
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