When did she realise clothes have nothing to do with gender? Bala believes it resulted from her education in fashion that spans two countries. “I graduated from the National Institute of Fashion Technology in Bengaluru and then, completed my post graduation from an academy in Milan. While Indian formal education sharpened how I approach dressmaking technically, Milan helped me develop my own sensibility in the field.” It is there that she picked up how dress sense, especially on the streets, departs gender constructs and meets an expression of the self. So, does her ideology resonate with her patrons? “We have these cute genderless crop tops that have mostly been bought by men. Men slide into our DMs telling us about the gender-defying styles they really like. That reaffirms what I have set out to do,” she sums up.

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Are you keen to challenge binary dressing constraints? Here are Bala’s classic hacks.

. A basic oversized T-shirt: Wear it with a jacket for a formal look or pair it with shorts/pants for a regular grocery run. You might also want to put some thought into your accessories — earrings, caps or shoes — to amp up the look.

. A bulky blazer: Blazers are taking over the fashion world. This festive season, try styling one with a plain saree.

. A pair of baggy pants: Get one that sits well around your waistline but flows freely to prevent an uncomfortable crotch situation. Fluid pants can be paired with a kurta for a festive dance meet-up, with an ill-fitted shirt for a casual look, and with a fitted top for a semi-formal look.

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