No Filter: City boy’s journey from Chennai to London Fashion Week runway

As the country and most of us are reeling from the impact of the film Gully Boy, Kaushik Velendra — our very own Chennai boy whose story is a film waiting to be made — is inspiring youngsters in the city to dream big. After completing his Master’s degree from Central Saint Martins in London, he presented his MA graduate collection at the London Fashion Week earlier this month, and it was well-received. 

With mentions in editions of Vogue and in The Business of Fashion (BoF) this is a dream come true. Kaushik, for as long as I have known him, has been unabashedly ambitious — refreshingly so, amidst the faux humility we see all around us. He believes inner strength is essential to succeeding in any industry, especially fashion. Wishes are pouring in from friends, family and industry professionals. He tells me that this is the first step in his journey and is just one per cent of what he wants to achieve. 

His uncanny ability to live in the present with his eyes firmly set on the future is reflected in his collection where he redefines masculinity. In a post MeToo era with conversations on masculinity becoming a daily debate, Kaushik sees a future where men embrace their sexiness and we accept that it is human nature. 

We live in a world where women are sexualised in the media and often, men are relegated to the role of being the objectifier, but what of male sexuality and its expression through clothing? Men have their own insecurities for some, it maybe that their calf muscles or shoulders aren’t up to their expectations. In a collection that is part futuristic and part salve to one’s insecurities, this is fashion at its therapeutic best.

For years now, we have wondered why Kaushik has never done a show in Chennai and he tells me that something has been holding him back. “I was waiting for an international platform to make my debut. I realised that I had something to say in fashion and I’m thrilled that my work speaks for itself and people understand my perspective. I presented a menswear collection but it is also designed to be unisex,” he says adding, “I would love to see Sonam Kapoor wearing my collection. Indian fashion is very celebrity-driven and she has done more to move the needle in the right direction than anyone else.” 

Through all of this, Kaushik mentioned that in his interview at Central Saint Martins, he spoke of about representing Chennai and India in the menswear segment internationally, though many would consider this an audacious move. “They believed in me when I said I want to be the forerunner of my country to set up a fashion house that is iconic, global and Indian in its roots. Every day I heard people whispering, ‘He is Indian, what is he doing here?’ I’m hoping I have laid that notion to rest and wish many others will follow suit,” he shares.

While anyone else in his place would be scraping their jaws off the floor in disbelief that a decade-old dream was finally realised, Kaushik has already added fresh ones to his vision board. He aspires to inspire youngsters coming from a similar background and a past like his to dream big and hopes that his career graph will become a benchmark. 

Just like boys in our country dream of being in the Indian cricket team, it is about time we accepted that some boys dream in fabric and finishings and hope to see their work featured in Vogue and on the biggest fashion stages and runways. As we talk about the impact of global representation, Kaushik hopes to walk into his own or any major atelier one day and see more Indian faces. Dream big, my friend, and I hope that a parent reading this somewhere will give their young boy the license to dream as well.