Red is a powerful color across cultures, especially for South Asian women, but I’ve always had a complicated relationship with the color red. I now realize that conflict came from my own quiet rejection of tradition — a tradition I can maybe now appreciate with deeper insight. As I continue to work through my relationship with tradition, I was curious to experiment with this shade and see how it would feel to me.
For this collaboration, D[I] worked with the Los Angeles-based brand KYNAH. Meaning “woman leader”, KYNAH captures a sense of tradition reimagined for the modern South Asian woman. Their pieces are familiar yet fresh and the brand appeals to a new generation who is finding ways to connect sartorially to the culture.
The Zoya outfit is a silk kurta pajama in the most brilliant red with a traditional georgette threadwork dupatta. Paired with classic Gucci sneakers, this look revisits what is traditional versus modern and focuses on comfort with effortlessness. Heba from @HMandaviaMakeup went for a heavier glam for my face, but balanced it with straight hair and minimal accessories. Captured by the talented Inaya from @InayaCPhoto, this collaboration was unique because I found a greater appreciation for red and what it signifies for an Indian woman like myself. Red no longer felt heavy with the weight of culture & tradition — it now symbolized a celebration of my heritage with a comfortable boldness.
Dallas [Intuitive] 