FWD life April fashion special issue, with the sub-theme of fashion and innovation, had Gender Fluidity as the theme for the cover. The cover features three stunning artists Siddharth Menon, playback singer, and former Thaikkudam Bridge band member; Ketaki Narayan from Veeram; and Anjali Ameer, the first transwoman in India to play a lead role in a film.

An actress based out of Pune, Ketaki Narayan made her Mollywood debut in Jayarajan’s movie Veeram alongside Kunal Kapoor. She did a music video titled ‘Thirayai’ that went on to become the talk of the town earlier on. With a cheerful persona and a playful constitution, she struck pose after pose at the shoot for the cover of FWD Life’s Fashion Special Issue alongside Siddharth Menon and Anjali Ameer.

Working With Siddharth Menon & Anjali Ameer For FWD

Ever the fun loving person that she is, she describes the whole experience as gaining two new friends while talking about Siddharth and Anjali.”I met Anjali for the first time at the trial for the shoot. We played games and even doodled a bit. I could connect with her a lot. It’s always nice to meet new people. Siddharth was also very comfortable to work with during the shoot. I’d like to think I left after making two new friends there.”

It’s not been long since Ketaki entered the Malayalam Industry, and as such, it was her first time associating with FWD. “I found that everyone involved in the shoot was very clear about the look and the idea they wanted to portray. It didn’t feel like I was working with the crew for the first time. I was that comfortable.” she says regarding the shoot. “The costumes by Alan Alexander Kaleekal were very comfortable and complimented the idea behind the shoot perfectly. There was a sense of freedom throughout the shoot that enabled us to give it our very best.”

The Need For Gender Neutrality

The theme for the shoot was Gender Fluidity. The unisex clothing line by Alan Alexander Kaleekal showcased that the concepts of gender within the frameworks of clothing is only as limited as our thoughts. The shoot tried to highlight the need for gender neutrality within apparels in an increasingly widening and more defined spectrum of gender definitions that exist in society. Gender is no longer a binary phenomenon.

“What I feel is that any piece of clothing that comes from a designer is reflective of his or her experiences in life, the people he or she meets. I think what we wore was a derivation of all those experiences and thoughts of Alexander.” says Ketaki. “A shoot on Gender Fluidity is a first for me. But at the same time, the topic felt so relevant to the current backdrop of our country. It felt like something people should be aware of naturally. We see the discrimination on a day to day basis, be it against women, men or transgenders. You can see it everywhere, whether it’s while you’re traveling by train or at your workplace, this discrimination is a very real part of our lives. So I think it’s a very good topic, and I’m glad that I’m a part of this.”
“If people were to recall their basic human values, a lot of problems like this can be avoided. We just need to treat each other with respect, regardless of how they differ from us.

“I would love it if FWD came up with more covers like this, that is with themes that are socially relevant, and I’d love to be a part of it. Even if I’m not, I’d love to read it” She adds laughing, always ending the conversation on a positive note.

Words by Susmitha Suresh    Images by FWD Media

Digital version: https://goo.gl/HGTOLN

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Words by Rheanna Mathews     Photos: Jinson Abraham

Gender Fluidity is a new term, one that has nothing to do with one’s sexual orientation, but a gender identity that is best described as a dynamic mix of man and woman. There is the general tendency to consider gender a binary concept, when in fact, it isn’t so black and white. It is a wide and fluid spectrum and human beings needn’t conform to this binary that society has etched out for us.

This year, starting with the Paris Haute Couture to the Amazon India Fashion week, innovation, sustainability and gender fluidity were common among them all. So, it was decided that fashion and innovation would be the sub-theme with the main focus on gender fluidity. The idea was that the three models, of different genders, without accentuating their own gender or secondary sexual characteristics, would be able to enhance the features of the costumes, instead of their own identities.

Alan Alexander Kaleekal, an emerging Malayali designer caught our attention. His show at the Lakme´ Fashion Week last year featured gender neutral clothes. “In a world that is fast shedding its gender specific roles, it is high time we initiated the conversation about a versatile wardrobe that questions the conventional rules and norms set by our society,” is Kaleekal’s thought on his designs.

Siddharth Menon, Ketaki Narayan and Anjali Ameer have been featured on our fashion special issue’s cover, for it’s not about what gender you belong to, or what you identify with, but how you define yourself. Siddharth has been a follower of Gender Fluidity and inclusivity long before it was popularised. “I used to wear accessories that were generally tagged as something only girls wore. But I used to feel very stylish when I used to wear it, so I did. My style has changed a lot since then though.”

Ketaki, who rose to fame with the music video ‘Thirayi’, said “We see the discrimination on a day to day basis, be it against women, men or transgenders. So I think it’s a very good topic, and I’m glad that I’m a part of this.” Anjali, who is the first transwoman who’s acted opposite one of the biggest names in the Malayalam Industry. She was inspired by Kaleekal’s clothing line, and said “ I was glad to see that the lines were blurring and the clothing was not stereotyped.”

Throughout the shoot, the team was very clear on what they wanted to focus on and how they wanted to portray it. There was a thought to be expressed, after all. Without careful expression, it could get lost in the glamour of the shoot. Each shot was clicked with movement in mind. The frames are caught in mid-movement to express the uninhibited self usually constrained by attire. Clothing that focused on fluidity was expressed through the freedom of movement. There is a free flow of thought, a liquid momentum as we go through the pages. Again, freedom of movement becomes apparent in the layout as well, with overlayed images showing the transition from one pose to another. One is left in wonder at the collective efforts of the whole team to portray a thought, be it in attire, the shots clicked, or in the final outcome in print.

We thought it was high time to blur the lines of gender discrimination and work towards a positive approach, where men, women or people of any other gender are not stereotyped for who they are born as, or who they choose to be for the rest of their lives.

Models: Anjali Ameer, Ketaki Narayan, Siddharth Menon
Photographer: Jinson Abraham
Designer Label: KALEEKAL
Styling: Lakshmi Babu
Makeup & Hair Styling: Santosh Kumar
Photography Assistants: Aghil Menon, Deepu G S, Shan S H
Styling Assistants: Teresa Boban, Sangeeth Vempala
Retouch: Jemini Ghosh, Nimal Neeraj
Production: FWD Media

Digital version: https://goo.gl/HGTOLN

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Throwback to our last Women’s Issue featuring Mamta Mohandas where she talked about womanhood, gender equality and raising our sons right.

The post Mamta Mohandas – About Womanhood, Gender Equality and Raising Our sons Right ! appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.