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Androgynous Fashion from the Concept to Consumers: An Empirical Study

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Design for Tomorrow—Volume 1 (ICoRD 2021)

Part of the book series: Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies ((SIST,volume 221))

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Abstract

The concept of androgynous or gender-neutral fashion is known for its distinctive attribute that blends both conventional masculine and feminine design characteristics. In the history of fashion, the notion of androgynous fashion has been evolving since the 1920s, although it was irregular at times. In the postmodern Western cultures, androgynous aesthetic in fashion is increasingly accepted, encouraging the multiplicity of gender expressions. With significant influencers of the generation identifying themselves as gender-neutral and speaking out on the topic, the concept of being gender fluid is catching a lot of attention recently in the international fashion industry. Androgynous fashion is an emergent trend, which reflects in fashion ramps with models showcasing silhouettes and design elements that breakdown gender stereotypes. With this in mind, the current research aims to study androgynous fashion from both conceptual and user-centric perspectives in the Indian context. Data were collected through primary and secondary sources. Relevant secondary data were gathered from various books, research papers and fashion publications to set the conceptual context of the research. Additionally, to gather primary information about the Indian LGBTQ consumers’ perception of androgynous fashion, a questionnaire was circulated amongst young Indian fashion consumers using convenience and snowball sampling methods. The results and analysis of the study reveal the aspirations behind the gender-neutral design genre. This study also brings out the emotional needs of the Indian LGBTQ community members, who are the primary consumers of androgynous aesthetic.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, India

    Indranil Saha

  2. Amity University, Kolkata, India

    Akanksha

  3. Biswa Bangla Marketing Corporation Limited, Kolkata, India

    Diotima Basu

Authors
  1. Indranil Saha
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  2. Akanksha
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  3. Diotima Basu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Indranil Saha .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Product Design and Manufacturing, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

    Amaresh Chakrabarti

  2. IDC School of Design, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India

    Ravi Poovaiah

  3. IDC School of Design, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India

    Prasad Bokil

  4. IDC School of Design, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India

    Vivek Kant

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Saha, I., Akanksha, Basu, D. (2021). Androgynous Fashion from the Concept to Consumers: An Empirical Study. In: Chakrabarti, A., Poovaiah, R., Bokil, P., Kant, V. (eds) Design for Tomorrow—Volume 1. ICoRD 2021. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 221. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0041-8_60

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0041-8_60

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