The artist has presented a wedding scenario and given options of clothing. The reader can choose the dress they deem fit for the person

Thane-based educator Dan Rebello is one of them. The 23-year-old identifies as non-binary. But, the authorities at the Thane school, where she teaches, find it difficult to wrap their head around this. At work, she is expected to wear "respectable Indian outfits". It's almost like wearing a costume, she says. "On some days I'm fine with them. But, when my dysphoria sets in, I feel suffocated. I feel like I'll disintegrate and fall apart." Outside of work, Rebello prefers to dress up in mostly androgynous outfits. Her wardrobe has a sizeable collection of suspenders, loose pants and baggy shirts with floral prints. "I mostly shop from the men's section. But, that's also a problem because given my diminutive frame, even the small size is large for me," she says. Many of her outfits have been hand-stitched in the absence of the right size at stores.

Poll

Who will win the Punjab Elections?

BJP 32.86%

AAP 41.43%

INC 25.71%

Submit

View All In Poll

Dhakephalkar says all seven participants were given keywords—gender, clothes and Mumbai city—and also the free rein to chronicle their experiences. As an illustrator, her job was to put it to paper with sensitivity. "When you're queer, you have more access to a variety of clothing because you do not subscribe to gender roles. But, that also comes with its own set of challenges."

In the book, Rebello articulates her everyday ordeal. She has been refused entry to the ladies washroom, ordered to vacate seats reserved for women in buses or deboard the ladies compartment in trains. Security personnel at malls ask her to take the men's queue. All of this because "she looks like a man". She says, "In such situations, I'm compelled to speak up and say that I am a woman. Instead of apologising, they laugh at my face." It's common for strangers to stare at her chest to ascertain her gender.

Sanika Dhakephalkar

Swapnil Alizeh knows this all too well. The 22-year-old city-based actor, who also features in Dhakephalkar's book, loves wearing a saree. So much so, that people in his queer circle often rib him to "get over it". He says, "I just love it. It makes me feel liberated and confident even." Having said that, Alizeh's preferred choice of outfit in the Rainbow Book is a pair of black palazzos with a deep-necked, shimmery top with shoulder pads, of which Dhakephalkar has created an illustration. "When Sneha asked me what I would love to be seen in, I sent her a picture of me in the black outfit, because it's glamorous and sexy. As a gender fluid actor, I want to feel as accepted in a palazzo as I would in a tux." His Instagram handle is 'Girl with a Beard'. He often receives DMs from followers seeking fashion tips.

In the second part of the book, the person featured gets a voice. Here, they discuss what they would want to wear as opposed to what others think. In doing so, they also share their journey

While Alizeh and Rebello might be queer influencers, Dhakephalkar was clear that she needed to represent the underrepresented, too. "After a point, I stopped looking online for participants. I've even featured trans people whom I happened to meet on the street." In the last couple of months, she admits there have been lessons for her, too. "You tend to classify trans people in one category as if they have the same consciousness. But, there are a thousand aspects to a person's identity. "Although, the project is about clothes, the message to take home is to look beyond. "Clothing does not need to check gendered boxes."

Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates