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Inder Vhatwar (centre) believes it is important to provide a comfortable atmosphere to gay customers
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DNA catches up with Inder Vhatwar, fashion designer at his Bandra store D'Kloset, that sells gay fashion in Mumbai.
How did the idea for D’Kloset come about?
I used to shop in Bandra. If you’re gay, the sales people at most clothing stores, even at high-end malls, pass remarks and comments behind your back. It’s very disconcerting. If I asked for skinny jeans, they’d purposely fetch me jeans from the ladies’ section. It wasn’t a very friendly atmosphere. Since I’m interested in fashion, I thought I’d start a store that would provide a comfortable atmosphere for gay customers to shop.
Are most of your customers from the gay community?
You’d be surprised. I get 60% of my business from the straight crowd. If someone wants to experiment, if they have bold and unconventional tastes, then this store is right up their alley. I had a 40-plus straight man come in to the store. He bought a pair of skinny jeans and a pair of harem pants. He might have been uncomfortable trying out such clothes at another store. Moreover, we have a design consultant, so it’s a one-stop shop. I’m selling fashion that is different and I want everyone to try it.
How is gay fashion different from the usual fashion?
Well it’s bolder than what you normally see. You have different sizes and cuts and fits that are popular within the gay community. You have undergarments with colourful flower-prints, extra-skinny jeans and T-shirts, harem pants, and such. We have three kinds of V-necks depending on how much chest you want to show. You’re not going to get such options at the usual clothing stores.
Some of the items you mention, I’ve seen on the street, worn by gay and straight people. Would it be right to characterise them as gay fashion items?
Almost 90% of the time, people who actually take the first step and wear these clothes out on the street are gay. Only after people start liking the trend does the straight crowd dare to wear it. In a sense, the gay community pioneers fashion trends. This shouldn’t be a surprise, as most of the male stylists and fashion designers are gay.
Do you sell any items that even gay people won’t dare to wear in public?
[Laughs] Well, most of my clothes are not very risqué. But there are a couple of items like thongs and man-kinis that I don’t think anyone will want to wear in public. They are underwear after all.
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