As we take photos, friends flock to Akshaj (20) — or Aksh, as they’re known. They’re thrilled with the attention and help them pose. Feet planted firmly, arms slightly spread, ensuring the outfit stands out. Other students glance up from their work, curious and impressed. “EUC is a safe space”, says Aksh. “Not just as a place but as a community. I feel more confident in the clothes I wear here. I don’t need to question if an outfit is ‘acceptable’.”
A journey of self-expression
Aksh is dressed head-to-toe in black: “Black is powerful.” The centrepiece of their look is the poncho, fastened at the neck with a silver button and cinched with a ‘cute little belt’. They bought the poncho at a flea market at EUC. Their forearms are just visible, allowing for expressive hand gestures – flowing fingers that emphasise their words. The look is completed with their favourite boots and a well-cut A-line silhouette. Every detail is deliberate; Aksh isn’t someone who wears things randomly.
The combination creates a refined silhouette – sleek but with substance, without the outfit centring entirely on the body. “The poncho gives me a kind of fluidity I really appreciate”, they say. “That fluidity shifts my focus away from my body. That’s a strength.” Clothing helps Aksh pay more attention to the early stages of their self-exploration. By minimising the physical, space is created to explore every aspect of their personality.
At the same time, clothing can also be a challenge. Do they feel comfortable? Are they accepted? “When you’re on a journey, especially as a queer person, people quickly put you in a box, stereotyping you”, Aksh explains. For them, the tension between what others think and what they think of themselves is a constant journey. The former sometimes takes up more space, even though the latter is ultimately more important. Fortunately, they’re surrounded by friends who understand the search. Aksh cherishes these friends and smiles, saying: “They dress as they are, and that challenges me to do the same.”
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received? “A fellow student council member once complimented me. I don’t remember exactly what they said, but I hadn’t expected them to notice that my outfit was a deliberate choice. They saw me. First, the choices I’d made, and then they saw me, the way I’d hoped they would.”
