How Kerala’s Gen Z is finding itself in fashion

Every timewe packed for our annual journey to Kerala, my mom would urge me to pack a number of kurtas, and a few full-length skirts in order that I didn’t offend the sensibilities of my family or stand out.

And positive sufficient, I learnt it the arduous method that even an off-the-cuff ensemble of T-shirt and denims might garner undesirable consideration. This was within the early 2000s. About 10 years in the past, once I moved to Aluva, I believed issues is likely to be trying up fashion-wise. Properly, issues had improved, marginally and I held out hope.

By 2025, the style scene within the State has undergone a complete makeover. Be it anti-fit tees, and white sneakers to crop tops, combine and match of daring prints with solids, monochrome outfits and extra, Gen Z positive is aware of the way to make a style assertion.

Twenty-one-year previous Abhirami Chaliyadath, a pupil from Kozhikode, says, “For a very long time, style was about carrying branded garments; however I all the time felt , it was extra about staying on pattern.”

Social media units the foundations

With the daybreak of the social media age, style started to be dictated by it, particularly previously 5 to 6 years. “Covid-19 modified quite a lot of issues. Social media, particularly Instagram, acquired a giant enhance. And that led to a wave of change within the style world, principally led by a crop of influencers, who introduced world traits to our screens. And that made a distinction,“ says 28-year-old Amith Mohan, administrator and video content material creator for @kozhikottukaarofficial, a influencer neighborhood in Kozhikode.

Gayathri Mohan, 31-year-old style content material creator based mostly in Mumbai, says the change is definitely seen now. When she began out as a stylist in Kochi, style content material creators have been appeared down upon. “Now, everybody, together with large manufacturers, perceive the worth of a collaboration with an influencer,” she says.

Gayathri Mohan
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Particular Association

And even when one isn’t an influencer, the recognition of a gown or a skirt, can create a ripple impact. As quickly as a bit of clothes goes viral on social media, excessive road manufacturers begin recreating the design. “New traits aren’t restricted to a sure circle anymore. It’s in every single place — from workplace and faculty to your family and friends circle,” says founder and designer of Pranaah, Poornima Indrajith. “If my daughter (Prarthana) wears one thing, it isn’t simply her, however quite a lot of different women in her age group are carrying comparable garments.”

Social media has additionally blurred geographical boundaries, says Diya John of Salt Studio. “Children’ today are carrying crop tops, free match or dishevelled T-shirts and shirts, bomber jackets. It’s wonderful how, when the newest traits hits New York or Paris, an influencer sitting at Kottayam is carrying comparable garments at practically the identical time!”

A mannequin in a Bakr T-shirt
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Particular Association

Designers are counting on social media for advertising their labels. Mohammed Hizqeel, designer of clothes label BAKR, says, “I are likely to push my model extra on Instagram and it reaches the best folks.”

Gender fluid style

The idea of gender has grow to be extra fluid and inclusive in style. “Children are very conscious of gender fluidity and they’re opting to put on actually something they need to. In the course of the Kochi Muziris Biennale (2024), the place Salt had a pop up, we had these anti-fit shirts that have been purchased by each women and men,” says Diya.

Conventions are being damaged, too. “Nowadays males don’t shrink back from selecting colors like salmon pink and teal. Korean impressed style — dishevelled tees constructed from cloth with excessive thread depend that don’t crease, impartial colors and straight-fit denims and monochrome are trending in males’s style,” Hizqeel provides.

Consolation is essential

Kind-fitting or tailor-made clothes is actually passé. “Consolation is essential and it’s all about layering and mixing and matching dishevelled separates,” says Poornima. There’s the rise of flared pants, crop jackets, waist-coats, flown attire, and crochet tops, denim skirts and extra. “The hip-hop tradition has performed a major function within the style scene right now,” she provides. Children are into thrifting as nicely. ”With thrifting, one can get two to 3 good tops for ₹1,500, whereas, a excessive road model would worth one good high between ₹1,200- ₹1,800,” says Abhirami.

Abhirami Chaliyadath
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

“We don’t actually have an idea of various seasons, however, Gen Z doesn’t appear to care. They’re opting to put on layered clothes, albeit mild layers,” Gayathri says. The colors which are trending on this season are black, white, olive, deep reds and maroons. In line with Diya, florals and stripes are all the time in vogue and “the best way the youth are mixing and matching the prints, with print on print or setting it off with solids, is so refreshing.”

Cultural shift and availability

In case you step into any membership, espresso store, and even the streets of Kochi, you’ll see, there’s positively a method and a cultural shift, says Diya. “Mother and father don’t physique disgrace anymore; they’re extra supportive and let the youngsters be. This wasn’t the case once I was rising up. I keep in mind, when my older cousins would say they need to research style design, the household elders would discourage it.”

Availability issues too. “With manufacturers like Zara and H&M having on-line shops now, stylish garments are available. The youthful era can be into thrifting, particularly for the reason that Y2K style is again,” she says Diya.