Gender fluidity in the fashion industry
- Fashion Featured
Schenelle Dsouza- 32 minutes read
Schenelle Dsouza
Louis Vuitton recently launched its Coussion handbag in collaboration with Masaba Gupta. The iconic statement piece made head waves for its luxurious soft-quilted design, which LV describes as an exploration of the cross-over between the masculine and the feminine.
The soft cushiony texture of the bag is contrasted with a steel metal chain which results in an accessory that is perfect for the gender-fluidity of modern fashion. Although gender-fluid fashion is not a new trend, it is definitely received a push in recent times, thanks to Gen-Z and Millennials.
Yin-and-yang
Whether it is called gender-fluid, gender-neutral or gender agnostic, the terms just refer to one’s choice in clothing unfazed by gender; outfits that are created to fit one’s personality rather than their sex. While it is just a piece of clothing, gender-fluid fashion is also more than that, it is a state of mind where the lines of gender can be blurred. An expression of oneself, where a woman can choose to don a stylish suit, and a man a flowy skirt or a dress, simply because they feel like it. It is the translation of one’s personality transcending into an ensemble that cannot be boxed into limiting categories such as menswear and womenswear.
Pioneers
Jaden Smith was one of the earliest celebrities to embrace gender fluidity when he donned a colourful dress for his January 2016 Vogue Korea shoot. Talking about the backlash he received for it in an interview with British GQ in March 2016 Jaden said, “I feel like people are confused about gender norms. I don’t see ‘man clothes’ and ‘women clothes’, I just see scared people and comfortable people.”
Among public figures, Harry Styles, another iconic patron of gender fluidity has been wowing us for a while now. For the Met Gala 2019, the British Singer wore a sheer black organza blouse with a lace jabot by Gucci finished with classic black trousers and a pair of chunky men’s heels.
However, it was his November Vogue cover that really left us awestruck. An ensemble designed entirely by Gucci, Harry dressed in a pale blue tiered Victorian-style lace gown with a black trim, paired with a navy blazer.
Billy Porter is by far the most fashionable when it comes to gender-fluid looks. Be it his red carpet rendezvous’ or his onscreen roles, the actor absolutely refuses to stick to any gender norms. He has often made waves with his fashion sense, going for only the best and the boldest.
Right from his 2019 Oscars Christian Siriano tuxedo-gown to his elaborate suit-gown by Celestino Couture at the 2019 Tony’s Awards. And who can forget his absolutely stunning look at the 2019 Met Gala.
While these are some of the most memorable pioneers, there are others like Lil Nas X, Cara Delevigne, Ruby Rose and Keiynan Lonsdale who’ve also set some really high standards for the new generation.
Indian brands with genderless collections
While brands all around the world have adapted to genderless norms, Indian brands too have stepped forward curating some of the most unique designs that are perfect for pretty much everyone. Here are some lesser-known Indian brands and their remarkable gender-fluid collections.
1. Anaam
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2. Bloni
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3. Bobo Calcutta
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4. Chola By Sohaya Misra
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5. Huemn
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6. Norblack Norwhite
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7. The Pot Plant
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