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India's transgender sari models winning hearts | India's transgender sari models winning hearts |
(about 13 hours later) | |
In a highly unusual move, a designer in the southern Indian state of Kerala has launched her new collection of saris, featuring two transgender models, writes the BBC's Geeta Pandey in Delhi. | In a highly unusual move, a designer in the southern Indian state of Kerala has launched her new collection of saris, featuring two transgender models, writes the BBC's Geeta Pandey in Delhi. |
Sharmila Nair's collection is called Mazhavil - or, the rainbow - and it's "dedicated to transgender people because globally they are represented by rainbow flags". | |
In India, where transgender people are looked down upon by the larger society and are considered as the in-between people who are to be ridiculed and shunned, Ms Nair's choice of models is attracting a lot of attention. | In India, where transgender people are looked down upon by the larger society and are considered as the in-between people who are to be ridiculed and shunned, Ms Nair's choice of models is attracting a lot of attention. |
The models - Maya Menon and Gowri Savitri - have no previous experience in modelling and Ms Nair says she found them through Queerala, an organisation that works with the LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender) people in Kerala. | The models - Maya Menon and Gowri Savitri - have no previous experience in modelling and Ms Nair says she found them through Queerala, an organisation that works with the LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender) people in Kerala. |
"I was thinking about how I was going to showcase this collection of handloom saris and I saw a Facebook post about the state government's new policy to better the lives of transgender people. | |
"I thought since the government was doing so much for the LGBT people, I should also do something," Ms Nair told the BBC on phone from Cochin. | "I thought since the government was doing so much for the LGBT people, I should also do something," Ms Nair told the BBC on phone from Cochin. |
Ms Nair, who never uses professional models in her campaigns, says she had two criteria for selecting the models for her latest campaign. | Ms Nair, who never uses professional models in her campaigns, says she had two criteria for selecting the models for her latest campaign. |
"We were just looking for models who love wearing saris and who would be comfortable in front of the camera. We didn't want them posing too much." | "We were just looking for models who love wearing saris and who would be comfortable in front of the camera. We didn't want them posing too much." |
Both Maya and Gowri are "transgender women, trapped in male bodies", says Ms Nair. | |
The designer says she had been sent their photographs in saris, but when she met them they were dressed as men, in shirts and trousers. | The designer says she had been sent their photographs in saris, but when she met them they were dressed as men, in shirts and trousers. |
"When we dressed them up in our saris for the campaign, they were totally transformed. They looked so gorgeous," she says. | "When we dressed them up in our saris for the campaign, they were totally transformed. They looked so gorgeous," she says. |
Ms Nair, 25, is selling the saris under her label Red Lotus which she launched seven months ago. | Ms Nair, 25, is selling the saris under her label Red Lotus which she launched seven months ago. |
"My husband is from Kerala but he lived in Tamil Nadu for a long time. It was from his family that I heard about this Tamil myth that the fibre from the red lotus flower was used to weave clothes for gods and goddesses. So I named my company after the flower," she says. | "My husband is from Kerala but he lived in Tamil Nadu for a long time. It was from his family that I heard about this Tamil myth that the fibre from the red lotus flower was used to weave clothes for gods and goddesses. So I named my company after the flower," she says. |
The collection of brightly coloured saris and the stunning models have won rave reviews and the Kochi-based designer says that purchase orders have been pouring in from India and abroad. | The collection of brightly coloured saris and the stunning models have won rave reviews and the Kochi-based designer says that purchase orders have been pouring in from India and abroad. |
Made by weavers in a small village in Hubli district in the neighbouring state of Karnataka, the saris are priced between 1,500 rupees ($23; £16) and 2,500 rupees ($38; £26). | Made by weavers in a small village in Hubli district in the neighbouring state of Karnataka, the saris are priced between 1,500 rupees ($23; £16) and 2,500 rupees ($38; £26). |
"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," Ms Nair says. | "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," Ms Nair says. |
However, the choice of transgender models hasn't gone down well with some who say the designer is "using cross-dressers as models to gain publicity". | However, the choice of transgender models hasn't gone down well with some who say the designer is "using cross-dressers as models to gain publicity". |
In a country where the transgender community remains socially excluded, living on the fringes of society, with members make a living by singing and dancing at weddings or child births or begging and prostitution, Ms Nair defends her choice. | |
The models, both 29, are college graduates, but they are unemployed because they are transgender, she says. | The models, both 29, are college graduates, but they are unemployed because they are transgender, she says. |
This assignment has brought them visibility and the designer says she hopes that it will also bring them acceptability so that they can get employment. | This assignment has brought them visibility and the designer says she hopes that it will also bring them acceptability so that they can get employment. |
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