Interview of Neha Sikder
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
Hi I’m Neha! I’m 17 years old, a junior in high school as well as an athlete. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and constantly look for ways to break the rules, and inspire others to do the same. I currently reside in Dallas, TX!
Now tell us a bit about Desoire:
Desoire is a zero-waste fashion brand, free from gender conventions. Think both genders in crop tops, skirts, and making TRULY genderless fashion accessible to mainstream consumers.
When did you first realise the lack of feminine gender neutral fashion?
It was around 2020, after hearing the phrase “genderless fashion,” I decided to learn more about it, and started to realize it was all the same: boring, boxy and masculine styles being promoted as “revolutionary.”
I desired for more which led me to conduct some market research. I found that the majority of consumers have also seen a gap in the market for feminine, genderless.
Why is it important to have feminine clothes also be gender neutral?
Gosh. This is so important. Feminine clothing has long been stigmatized. Irrespective of your gender, the expression of femininity has always been perceived as weak. What our society has yet to accept, is that both men and women need a balance of feminine/masculine energy to thrive. Clothing is one way to achieve this. Clothing is a means of expression, it doesn’t dictate our gender identity, but rather gives us a chance to show the world who we are. By normalizing feminine clothing as gender neutral, we disrupt the toxic masculinity that restricts men especially.
What is your goal with Desoire?
My goal with Desoire is to deconstruct the social barriers that devalue the expression of femininity. Desoire wants to inspire the world to question the norms, advocate for change, and overall, tear down the rules that keep us from living our best lives.
Who is your inspiration?
I have so many inspirations! In the fashion industry I would say Harris Reed, as he is one of the few individuals working to dismantle the rigid fashion norms. A lot of inspiration comes from our own community, we have met such amazing people who all have a story to share and champion for our mission along the way. Honestly, it has been a blessing to meet all the individuals I have, every person along this journey has been in inspiration to push through (including you, Freya!)
What do you hope to give the world through Desoire?
I really want to show the world what’s possible. I want Desoire to become a leader in our mission for freedom of expression; and inspire people to come along, regardless of their background. I want people to know what we’re capable of, and that anyone, anywhere, has the opportunity to create massive change. As a young girl, I always wanted to change the world. Desoire is my passion project to make that young girl proud. Now that I’m a bit older, I’m on a mission with a wonderful community making it possible.
