WEB CHUTNEY

Sharmila Nair, from Cochin in the southern Indian state of Kerala, has created a new sari collection inspired by and made for India’s transgender community.

The collection is called Mazhavil, meaning rainbow, and uses bright, vibrant shades.

Made under her brand Red Lotus, the saris are created from Hubli cotton dyed with natural colours, and paired with printed blouses.

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, Nair’s choice of models is attracting a lot of attention.

Nair hopes the campaign might help give trans women a little positive visibility and that hopes it will help Menon and Savithri, the models, eventually find employment.