Reclaiming Tradition Through Queer Identity
Creative Director: Zaina Hashim
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This editorial explores inclusivity through lesbian styling, highlighting how queer women in India are redefining femininity on their own terms while remaining connected to cultural heritage. Rather than rejecting traditional Indian dress, the concept reimagines ethnic garments through androgynous, masculine-coded, and gender-neutral styling choices, creating contemporary Indo-Western looks rooted in authenticity, comfort, and self-expression.
The shoot examines clothing as a powerful site of identity, negotiation, and resistance. Traditional silhouettes are stripped of compulsory softness and reconstructed through structure, tailoring, layering, and unexpected pairings. Embroidered blouses meet utilitarian separates, jewellery is styled with restraint, and heritage textiles are worn with ease rather than expectation.
Grounded in the lived realities of queer fashion practices, this story reflects how lesbian and queer individuals challenge heteronormative beauty standards while preserving cultural continuity. It is a celebration of self-definition, visibility, and the freedom to inhabit tradition without conformity.
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Creative Director: Zaina Hashim
Photographer: Souhardya Biswas
Makeup Artist: Mehek Pilai
Modeling Agency: Inega