A NEW MASCULINITY

A generation of men is looking to add more substance to their style with a pioneering, exploratory, and sometimes provocative approach to how they dress

- HITANSHI KAMDAR

“Menswear is boring at times,” says Randhir Singh, founder of fetish-wear brand, Subculture. This is an emphatic sentiment subconsciously echoed across a generation of men of late. Where they would earlier follow a straightforward sartorial brief favouring functionality over vanity, the changing codes of menswear have flipped the narrative by highlighting the power of aesthetic and self-expression.

This new definition of Indian masculinity is breaking away from the rigid and futile self-imposed roles of brawn, aggression, and stoic intensity. A certain vulnerability combined with greater self-confidence is characteristic of these men, who take pride in wearing their identities and personalities on their literal sleeves. While their fathers may have bulk-bought their yearly supply of shirts and pants from local shops, they prefer spending hours looking for designs globally that cater to their individuality.

And now, it’s all sparkling flashes of neon nails, pearl chokers, statement rings paired with crochet pants, experimental knitwear, and even skintight bodysuits. It’s a world away from the cookie-cutter suits, chinos, and logo tees that previously filled male closets. And a coterie of homegrown labels is helping these men embrace this change and craft an image that balances their gender and sexual identities with the fundamentals of their personality.