- Hello! India Magazine
How Three Indian Designers Are Reimagining Queer Identity Through Craft
In this Hello! India feature (June 23, 2025), three leading designers-Suneet Varma, Ashdeen Z. Lilaowala, and Mayyur Girotra-share how their couture becomes a canvas for queer identity beyond slogans and symbols.
- Suneet Varma evokes memory and magic realism through delicate creations like his “enchanted forest” collection, transforming couture into intimate storytelling.
- Ashdeen Z. Lilaowala reinterprets Parsi Gara and Persian Rasht embroidery in his Haft Rang line, layering archival motifs with contemporary fluidity. His work reflects a lifelong openness about identity and a belief in supporting families through the process of acceptance.
- Mayyur Girotra amplifies queer visibility with his Ride to Pride showcase in New York, featuring 35 non-model queer individuals in gender-fluid designs that merge craft with streetwear.
Together, their approaches highlight how fashion can archive, liberate, and give voice to identity-offering visibility that is authentic, nuanced, and deeply personal.
