Saisha Shinde stands as a groundbreaking figure in Indian fashion: a creative powerhouse and the first openly transgender designer to showcase at Lakme Fashion Week in its 25-year history. Her fearless journey from Swapnil Shinde, a dedicated designer hiding her authentic self, to Saisha, an empowered transgender woman and fashion visionary, reflects resilience, artistry, and social change. This guest post explores the inspiring life, career milestones, and cultural impact of Saisha Shinde, who is redefining fashion and inclusivity in India.
Early Life and Fashion Beginnings
Born in 1981 in Mumbai to a Marathi family, Saisha Shinde graduated from the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Mumbai in 2003. She enhanced her skills with a six-month internship at the renowned House of Versace in Italy, giving her valuable exposure to international fashion techniques and aesthetics. Returning to India, Saisha’s fashion career began humbly as a salesperson at the Kimaya Fashion Store and later as a visual merchandiser. These early roles sharpened her understanding of customer needs, retail trends, and visual presentation, laying the foundation for her design sensibilities.
Launching Her Own Label
In 2007, Saisha launched her fashion label under her birth name, Swapnil Shinde. Her brand quickly gained recognition for sophisticated, elegant womenswear, specialising in red-carpet gowns, cocktail dresses, and impeccably tailored silhouettes. Early clients included prominent Bollywood celebrities such as Kareena Kapoor Khan, Deepika Padukone, Aditi Rao Hydari, Shraddha Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, and Sunny Leone. Her ability to create flattering and glamorous designs for diverse body types made her a favourite for high-profile events.
Identity and Transformation
Personal Struggles and Coming Out
For many years, Saisha struggled privately with her gender identity while maintaining a thriving fashion career. Coming out initially as a gay man during her early career, she later embraced her truth fully as a transgender woman. In 2021, Saisha bravely announced her authentic self to the world through social media, making headlines across India and inspiring countless others.
Her transition was not just a personal milestone but a revolutionary act in the predominantly cisgender Indian fashion industry. Saisha’s courage challenged social norms and expanded the conversation around gender identity and inclusivity in Indian society.
Impact on Design Philosophy
Saisha’s gender journey influenced her creative expression profoundly. Earlier collections reflected some confusion and a commercial approach, but over time, her designs gained clarity, emotional depth, and authenticity. Fashion became her medium of self-empowerment, allowing her to challenge stereotypes and celebrate fluidity through fabric and form. Her designs began to blend masculine and feminine elements in harmony, reflecting her lived experience and evolving identity.
Landmark Moment: Lakme Fashion Week Debut
First Openly Transgender Designer
In 2023, Saisha Shinde made history as the first openly transgender designer to showcase her collection at Lakme Fashion Week, one of India’s premier fashion platforms. Her presence on this prestigious runway was a watershed moment for transgender visibility, representation, and acceptance in Indian fashion.
The Intertwined Collection
The collection she presented, titled “Intertwined,” drew inspiration from Kashmir’s natural beauty and socio-political struggles. Saisha’s creative vision included a signature criss-cross trellis weave, inspired by a custom outfit she designed for Deepika Padukone. The palette of natural landscape hues and the thematic play between rigidity and fluidity symbolised the intertwined contrasts of her identity and Kashmir’s complex reality.
This collection was not only an artistic triumph but a powerful statement of activism. It opened dialogue about gender fluidity, resilience, and the need for sustained inclusivity beyond token gestures in fashion.
Challenges and Social Impact
Despite a successful career, Saisha faced deep societal stigma and industry bias related to her gender identity. For seventeen years, she hid her true self, initially presenting as a gay man before coming out as a transgender woman publicly in 2021. This delay was driven by fear of rejection and difficulty being accepted in a largely conservative and conformist industry.
Even after coming out, Saisha experienced misgendering and pressure to conform to traditional feminine stereotypes, which often conflicted with her authentic self-expression. Some colleagues who were friendly before her transition found it difficult to accept her new identity, a form of subtle discrimination she openly acknowledges.
Battling anxiety, panic attacks, and depression during this period was part of her mental health struggle, reflecting the broader psychosocial challenges many transgender individuals face. The pandemic lockdown in 2020 intensified these challenges, becoming a turning point when Saisha decided to fully embrace her identity.
Social Impact and Broader Influence
Saisha’s public coming out became a landmark moment for transgender visibility in Indian fashion and mainstream culture. Her courage has inspired many within and beyond the LGBTQ+ community to embrace their truth openly. She received overwhelming support not only from LGBTQ+ people but notably from straight women, who said her story gave them courage to live fearlessly.
Her fashion work itself evolved to reflect her authentic identity, moving from commercial ambiguity to collections with clarity, emotional depth, and fluidity. The “Intertwined” collection at Lakme Fashion Week symbolised the intertwined struggles of Kashmir and transgender experiences, transforming fashion into a potent medium for activism and dialogue.
Navigating Prejudice and Discrimination
Saisha’s rise did not come without challenges. She faced societal stigma, industry bias, and the difficulty of maintaining professional relationships amid discrimination. Misgendering and pressure to conform to female stereotypes remain ongoing struggles.
Despite this, Saisha chose to be authentic publicly, becoming a symbol of courage and visibility. Her presence challenges prejudiced notions and paves the way for greater transgender inclusion in fashion and beyond.
Representation and Legacy
Breaking Barriers and Creating Space
Saisha Shinde’s journey from a bullied child to a celebrated fashion icon represents a profound story of resistance, courage, and representation. Facing bullying and societal pressure from a young age, she persevered to make a name in the competitive Indian fashion scene. Her fearless public transition after 17 years in the industry was a landmark moment that paved the way for greater transgender inclusion in mainstream Indian culture and fashion.
As the first openly transgender designer at Lakme Fashion Week in its 25-year history, Saisha broke significant barriers. Her presence challenged often unspoken taboos in a largely cisgender, heteronormative industry and society. This milestone created space not only for transgender visibility but also for a wider conversation about gender fluidity, diversity, and acceptance in fashion.
By owning her identity publicly, Saisha demonstrated that authenticity is a powerful source of creativity, innovation, and influence, rather than a limitation. She has become a role model and inspiration for transgender youth and aspiring designers seeking to express their truth amid cultural and professional constraints.
The Power of Visibility and Voice
Visibility matters. Saisha’s visibility on prestigious platforms like Lakme Fashion Week sends a message to marginalised communities in India and beyond: there is space for your stories and identities in high fashion and culture. Her artistic work, such as the “Intertwined” collection inspired by Kashmir’s beauty and struggles, uses fashion as a medium for activism and storytelling, granting voice to underrepresented narratives.
Her influence extends beyond aesthetics. Saisha challenges industry norms around gender expression, pushing fashion to be an inclusive, authentic space that respects and celebrates differences year-round, not just during Pride or special events. She advocates for meaningful inclusion of transgender individuals in all facets of fashion, from runways and marketing to backstage teams and leadership roles.
Cultural and Industry Impact
Saisha’s success has catalysed conversations about inclusion, acceptance, and systemic change in Indian fashion. When she publicly transitioned, many expected backlash or trolling, but instead, she received overwhelming support not just from the LGBTQ+ community, but from allies and industry peers. This shift shows growing cultural acceptance and Saisha’s role as a trailblazer influencing that change.
Her journey also highlights ongoing challenges, including misgendering, societal expectations of femininity, and residual bias even within LGBTQ+ spaces. Despite this, Saisha’s perseverance and visibility are breaking long-held stereotypes, normalising transgender identities as part of India’s modern cultural fabric.
Saisha Shinde’s journey from a bullied child to a celebrated fashion icon represents a transformative story of resistance and representation. Her fearless public transition after 17 years in the industry paved the way for greater transgender inclusion in mainstream Indian culture and fashion.
Her success has demonstrated that authenticity enhances creativity rather than limiting it, providing a role model for transgender youth and budding designers seeking to express their true selves.
Advocacy and Ongoing Challenges
Beyond the runway, Saisha uses her platform to advocate for an inclusive fashion industry that celebrates all identities year-round, not just during Pride Month. She openly discusses societal challenges such as misgendering and the pressures of conforming to feminine ideals, underscoring the complexities that transgender people navigate daily. Her call for deeper, systemic change continues to inspire designers, consumers, and industry leaders alike.
Conclusion
Saisha Shinde’s story is more than a fashion success; it is a beacon of social progress and empowerment. By merging artistry with identity politics, she has reshaped Indian fashion to be more inclusive, vibrant, and authentic. As Saisha continues to create and advocate, her legacy will empower future generations to embrace their truths boldly and beautifully.