From A Techie At Amazon.com To A Fashion Designer, This Trans-woman Is Making A Difference!
In our country, trans-genders are shunned, left behind, and treated as belonging to a different world. But, this trans-woman, with her venture, has carved a niche for herself. She also provides a secure livelihood, respect, and acceptance to others like her.
Born and raised in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Samyuktha Vijayan had a loving childhood. She was the apple of her parent’s eyes, and everyone loved her for the person she was. As a child, Samyuktha loved dressing up in her mother’s saree and would spend hours adoring herself in front of the mirror. She is also trained professionally in Bharatnatyam.
Early Life
For her parents, their daughter meant everything, and the demeaning society didn’t matter. Her parents were supportive and gave her the space to do whatever she wanted. “I never had to suppress any feelings about my being a girl because I was allowed to wear makeup and dress the way I wanted. Throughout my childhood, I was free to be myself,” Samyuktha recalls.
Samyuktha grew up acing her academics and bagged a spot in a renowned private engineering college. Amidst all she was doing for herself, some people would taunt her and pass snide remarks. But they couldn’t get to her. Her parents had molded her into a strong woman, and no one could bring down her morale.
Soon after graduating in 2012, Samyuktha landed a job with techie giant Amazon. After working for some time, she got the offer to move to Luxembourg on the job. That’s when a fresh chapter in Samyuktha’s story took shape. She spread her wings and flew to a new world. Samyuktha witnessed a more rational and organized society than the one back home.
Working Experience
In 2014, she traveled to the United Kingdom, and a year later, she moved to the United States. While working in Seattle, she became friends with a lot of trans-genders. The community welcomed her with open arms, and the kind of acceptance she received was fantastic! LGBTQ+ communities were common in America, but it was too unreal for us Indians. Samyuktha felt at home as a member of the community. She had a support system of people who were there for her through thick and thin. The community encouraged honest self-expression, which meant she could be the person she was! It was like she had a new life, as if she had started breathing all over again.
With her friends’ assurance and continuous support, Samyuktha decided to take another step forward. She made up her mind and transitioned medically. It was tough, but as her friends had her back, she pulled through and had a steady recovery.
While Samyuktha has an excellent support system of people who value her more than her sexuality, others were not so fortunate. Struck by this thought, Samyuktha returned home to give all she had received back to her community. That’s how TouteStudio was born – a Studio by Trans-woman.
TouteStudio
Samyuktha’s brainchild, TouteStudio, is a fashion wear boutique in Bengaluru, and the trans-women run it. The boutique specializes in Indian wedding wear that Samyuktha design herself! She has brought home a concept that no one has heard before. Back in the States, Samyuktha had come across an American brand called ‘Rent The Runway’ based on the lines of circular fashion. Clients could get their favorite dresses on rent and return them after using them for the occasion. Following the footsteps, Samyuktha felt that circular fashion is precisely what the Indian fashion industry needed.
Every year, people spend big money buying wedding wear that they wear only once. And shoved deep into the wardrobe or thrown out and never worn again. It contributes to gross environmental chaos. With this in mind, Samyuktha found it worthwhile to give this unique idea a shot! Born in February 2019, TouteStudio gleefully provides employment and a way to other transwomen and transmen to lead dignified lives. Called karigars, some employees have no prior fashion experience but work together to make ends meet.
With her parents’ and friends’ unconditional support, this trans-woman did what she wanted to. She lent a deaf ear to all the negativity around her and stood on her own feet. She even created a safe space for those like her to live a life of respect. Rising in a land where people rampantly discriminate against the transgender community, Samyuktha fought the adversity right in the face! With women like Samyuktha making a difference every day, a brighter, happier, and more sensitive world is not far from reality!
Writer:
Kavya Mukhija is a psychology student, a writer, a calligraphy artist, and a creative content creator. She loves traveling and exploring new places. Always dressed with a smile, she considers spreading happiness a good deed. Lastly, she is a woman with a disability who believes that more than the disability, it is the negative perception towards ‘disability’ that is disabling.
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