Couturier Mayyur Girotra was the first South Asian designer chosen to inaugurate New York Pride on June 2, 2023. After Aikya, Mr. Girotra once again returns to New York on June 5 to present his gender-inclusive Pride collection, “Ride to Pride.” This unique capsule line celebrates Indian heritage, merging social change with high fashion and traditional Indian textiles in genderless styles.
Each ensemble is fluid, inclusive, and global, aiming to break the binary in style and beyond. As a designer, Mr. Mayyur advocates for equality and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community, a cause that holds immense personal significance to him. This annual Pride collection embodies his beliefs and values.
Mr. Mayyur’s designs blend maximalist and minimalist sensibilities and find love in Indian crafts and colors. Gujarati Kutch patchwork, threadwork, ikat patterns, and custom prints are tailored into globally inspired silhouettes like high-waist pants, trench coats, oversized shirts, lehenga skirts, and saris.
The collection, made with upcycled silk and linen, reflects a commitment to mindful design and will be presented by a cast of only LGBTQ+ models taking the runway. It features a vibrant palette of bougainvillea pink, sandy neutrals, and rainbow hues, celebrating diversity and the Pride flag.
“I’ve always viewed fashion as far more than just clothes and embroideries. I also see it as more than just a manifestation of India’s heritage and design legacy. For me, it’s a means to inspire dialogue and conversation through the medium of craft. When you think of slow fashion, you think of pieces made to last, and pieces made with pure intentions. That’s the kind of change we are hoping to inspire by this collection — change that might be slow, but is steady and lasting,” Mr. Girotra said.
