Wear your pride: Check out these platforms and styling tips for LGTBQIA+ community-inspired fashion picks – Mid-day
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Updated on: 07 June,2025 08:56 AM IST  |  Mumbai
Anindita Paul
This June, express your solidarity and individuality with these LQBTQiA+ community-inspired fashion picks. Plus, a guide on how to style your look
A pride-themed clack fan. Pic Courtesy/LGBTQ.IN; (right) An ikkat co-ord set. Pic Courtesy/Rainbow Monkey
From showcasing individuality to highlighting solidarity to being wielded as a tool of self-expression — fashion has always played a multifaceted and complex role in the LGBTQiA+ community. While the now ubiquitous rainbow is now recognised as an almost universal symbol of pride and unity, both within the community and among allies, it isn’t the only way that clothing is being wielded as a force for change. Growing awareness about gender existing outside the binary has inspired several designers to create garments that subvert traditional gender roles and mould themselves to the myriad identities of their wearers and the values they subscribe to. And as the city rallies together to celebrate Pride Month, we present to you our round-up of interesting indie platforms that you can dip into, to feel the love this June.
. Be a fan: An online LGBTQiA+ pride merchandise platform, QueerBazaar is your one-stop shop for pride-themed apparel, accessories, flags and other celebratory paraphernalia. We are partial to this very affordable clack fan, made famous by Lady Gaga’s fans (or shall we say, monsters) at her recent Rio de Janeiro concert. The platform also offers neat lapel pins, beanies, totes and hoodies.
COST Rs 300
LOG ON TO lgbtq.in
. Flower power hour: Retro and psychedelic in equal parts, Rainbow Monkey offers fashionable yet comfortable and practical clothing for unapologetic maximalists. The bold, bright colours, rainbow-inspired palette, and almost effervescent styling make this platform a riot for those looking to add a playful spark to their wardrobes. The brand is queer-owned. We are all eyes for this ikat-inspired co-ord set, which harkens back to the 1980s rock scene.
COST Rs 13,999
LOG ON TO rainbowmonkey.in
An art-inspired bodysuit. Pic Courtesy/Vulgar; The Pride is Protest T-shirt. Pic Courtesy/Beunic; Embroidered sweatsuit. Pic Courtesy/Bombaim
. Colour outside the lines: Vulgar is dedicated to fluid fashion. It eschews traditional notions of femininity and masculinity to create garments that are fun, fresh and inclusive. With its distinctly futuristic aesthetic, the brand reminds us that fashion is meant to be fun. The garments can also be made-to-measure, and are styled interesting on non-binary models. We adore this quirky bodysuit, which can be layered in several unique ways.
COST Rs 8500
LOG ON TO vulgar.co.in
. By the people, for the people: BeUnic is a platform that exclusively showcases products created by LGBTQiA+ artists and designers. It also works with NGOs, support groups and queer folk to offer the community all kinds of support — from entrepreneurship to mental health, community events to legal advice. Our pick is this unisex pink tee, which is a powerful reminder of the importance of Pride Month.
COST Rs 999
LOG ON TO beunic.in
. Art for art’s sake: This designer’s remit is simple — to make art a way of life. Their label is known for its eccentric, electric colours, gender-fluid silhouettes, and queer narratives. From surrealism to Jamini Roy, Bobo Calcutta’s inspirations are many, but the underlying motive is singular — to express uninhibitedly. Our sights are on this embroidered sweatshirt, which showcases the brand’s signature aesthetic.
COST Rs 20,500
LOG ON TO bombaim.in
Pride is about celebrating individuality – loud, flamboyant, quiet, fierce, and everything in between. It’s a celebration of self-expression sans boundaries. Your clothes should say what words sometimes can’t,” explains fashion designer Aanchal Bubber-Mehta. Follow her tips to use fashion to express yourself:
Aanchal Bubber-Mehta; Harshavardhan Rai
. Fluid silhouettes and deconstructed tailoring: Oversized blazers, exaggerated shoulders, cinched waists, asymmetric shirting, draped dhotis, and kaftans for all. These silhouettes celebrate the body as a canvas of possibility, not limitation.
. Bold colours and unexpected prints: Think vibrant, clashing palettes — burnt orange with electric blue, mustard with lilac. Mix pinstripes and Madras checks. Combine softness with sharpness. Pair a quiet brown waistcoat with oversized orange pants.
. Pattern play: Traditionally masculine pinstripes are making a comeback, for everyone. Try them in cobalt blue with white stripes. Match a tailored waistcoat and pants with a contrasting printed shirt underneath.
. Accessories without boundaries: From delicate necklaces with sneakers, to rainbow manicures or animal motif pendants expressing your inner wilding, don’t get limited by traditional notions of masculine and feminine. Try oversized mesh hoops, bright cuffs, or contrast heels that further blur the lines. Style your hair by either wearing it long with soft waves, or a short buzzed cut.
. Fabrics that play: Translucent layers, mesh tops, sheer saris and organza overlays, invite sensuality and power.
Fashion designer Harshavardhan Rai offers a tip: “While shopping, ignore labels that tell you who the pieces are designed for. Shop from the men’s and women’s sections, and pick pieces that make you feel confident and comfortable. Celebrate textiles, fabrics and our bodies.”
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