In an unusual yet inspirational move, Kerala-based designer Sharmila Nair launched a new collection of saris modeled by two transgenders.
Sharmila told BBC that Gowri Savitri and Maya Menon had no prior experience in modelling and that she found them through an organization called ‘Queerala’ that works with members of the LGBT community in Kerala.
Image courtesy: BBC
While contemplating a method to showcase her new collection of handloom saris, she came across a post on Facebook about the Kerala government’s new policy to better the lives of transgenders. She too felt the need to help. She reportedly never uses professional models in her campaigns but here was an exceptional opportunity.
When Sharmila first met Gowri and Maya, both were dressed in trousers and shirt. They are transgender men who wish to be women. “When we dressed them up in our saris for the campaign, they were totally transformed. They looked so gorgeous,” she told BBC.
Image courtesy: Red Lotus
Image courtesy: Red Lotus
It is a fact that transgenders are a socially excluded community in India. With no concrete reforms to help them, they often dance at weddings or child births, beg and even indulge in prostitution to earn a living. Fully aware of the general prejudices that people hold against their community, Quartz reports that both Gowri and Maya had warned Sharmila about the repercussions of using transgender models and how it would negatively impact Red Lotus (her brand).
But that wasn’t the case. Reportedly, soon after the launch, the Kochi-based designer was flooded with orders from India and abroad. “In the past two weeks, we’ve already sold more than 100 saris. Besides people in India, we’ve received lots of orders from Britain, Singapore, Australia and the US,” Sharmila told BBC.
Image courtesy: Red Lotus
Image courtesy: Red Lotus
Both Maya and Gowri are graduates but remain unemployed because of their background. If nothing else, Sharmila hopes that the campaign has brought them enough visibility to help them secure jobs in the future.
