Calcutta-based menswear label Rahul Dasgupta has launched its capsule collection celebrating Pride Month that is celebrated in June every year commemorating the LGBTQ+ community’s culture, voices and rights. The collection, based on the native Indian fabric of khadi, uses the Oriental-origin Shibori dye in rainbow hues, symbolising the Pride colours, in the brand’s signature style of cord surface detailing. To showcase his designs and send out a message of embracing oneself with pride, Rahul chose professionals from different walks of life as his models who identify themselves as a part of the LGBTQ+ community.
“For generations the LGBT community has suffered in the name of social stigma. The Pride movement not only celebrates their presence and history, but also creates awareness and visibility about their rights for equality and dignity and encourages to ditch the norms that have been confining their survival in the hands of others. As a menswear label, I strongly believe the more we bring people from the LGBTQ+ community at the forefront, the fight for acceptance becomes stronger. Visibility plays a huge role in spreading awareness,” said Rahul.
Digital content creator and make-up professional Suman Airish Barik, who is a proud member of the queer community, wore a stylish look in the brand’s signature Bagalbandi kurta that can be styled in multiple ways. Designed with black tie-up detailing on the shoulder and both sides, the open-front kurta can be worn as an Angrakha kurta too. The Shibori-dyed rainbow cord detailing features on the pocket, enhancing the white. Suman, who also did the make-up for this look, created colourful, dramatic eyes to complement the outfit.
Make-up pro Abhijit Chanda, who identifies as queer, posed in a simple white open-ended three-panelled khadi kurta. It is designed with a zipper and black tie-up detailing, extended shoulder sleeves textured with cords for a broad-shoulder look and a Shibori-dyed corded chest panel in a rainbow hue.
Digital artist Saim Ghani Syed prefers to be identified by his queer gender identity and dressed up in a khadi zipper-detailed panelled kurta that is paired with a cropped zipper jacket with black seam technique. It has accentuating tie-ups and quilting design on the collar and cuffs. The Shibori-dyed rainbow-colour cord design running down from one shoulder brightens up the outfit.
Pictures courtesy: Aabeer Gangopadhyay
