Queer Cool: These LGBTQIA+ Owned Businesses Are Making Rainbow Waves

Sukkku describes her store as 'that magical store in Studio Ghibli where the protagonist transports you to another world'. Sukku discovered her passion for slow fashion and creating unique jewellery in the lockdown, and now, you can find a small collection of handmade necklaces, earrings, very cute stickers, trinket dishes, and 100 per cent authentic crystals. We found the website to be strictly no-BS (love that, honestly), and it's mentioned that since it's a slow fashion brand it may take up to 10 to 15 days for your package to arrive.

Puji (she/they) and her sibling Divya (she/her) started Control Plus P (CTRL+P) with a passion to create an ethical and sustainable business. CTRL+P is a lifestyle brand, which sells pride merch (beyond Kristy rainbows and flashy flags), sustainable products, cards, journals, notebooks, and cute socks. All are designed and made ethically in India. 

Balakrishna quit a well paying corporate job in Germany and moved back to India to pursue pottery as his full-time career. Yogam Pottery began in 2018 as a desire to celebrate passion and individuality. Their philosophy is to mould a life according to one's own terms, in the pursuit of beauty, tranquility, and individuality. The brand’s design aesthetics vary from simple, elegant, and functional ware to unique, individualistic intricate pieces inspired by traditional Indian art forms. The online shop on his website will be activated when they have new products available. So keep a lookout! If you're in Bengaluru, you can even book classes and workshops or rent the equipment for personal use.

Based in Uttarkhand, the brand was quick to establish a very loyal fanbase across the country. In their first year itself, they shipped all across India to very happy customers in cities like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and many others! Thriftdesu is a brilliant combination of kawaii and sustainability, according to Unino. She insists that you buy from her only if you need something! If you want to support her in other ways, you can always donate your clothes or share her stories.

A small business based out of Bengaluru, founded by Laksha and fuelled by her passion for mental health, she sells stickers, as the name suggests, which revolve around the theme of self-care and self-love. You can also get custom stickers made, just DM them on Instagram to know about the process, they're pretty quick to respond. 

We like totes, they're super fun, light, and can carry a lot of stuff. Cosmic Jalebi has over 30 prints to choose from and all of them are quirky, colorful, and expressive. The brand came about when Syed and Utkarsh decided it was time for the queer community to join forces and show cishet corporations how things are done. They aim to set an example by building a successful business where everyone feels empowered to be their true self. 

Gagged is a gender-less fashion store, with some really cool clothing items. Founded by Rudraksh who believes 'style is a way of expressing yourself and clothes are the medium'. They don’t have a website yet, to order an item you've to comment 'Book' on the post and then you will be DM'd regarding the payment process.

Shriya started her brand as a way to be able to support herself and so that she could have a way to make beautiful stuff for people. She deals mainly with commissions and takes orders for embroidery pieces, crochet pieces, cross stitch work, resin charms, and digital art. You can support her by ordering stuff from her store and checking out her ridiculously adorable Instagram page!

Aravani Art Project’s Instagram bio reads, 'A collective movement working to enable the Transgender Community through visual art, social experiments, and magic.' And what a magical experience indeed! Their work started as an expression and experiment using art and friendship as social justice activism. They say, 'We started reclaiming spaces as cis-women, trans-women/men, and queer people to make a point.' They say the biggest way to support them is to buy their art—both digital and hand-painted canvases by their artists. Some other ways of support would be to commission work from them, or even to put them in touch with philanthropists or MNC's to sponsor painting large scale walls in public spaces. 

If it's polymer jewellery you're in search of then you must check out Eclaypse. All reviews scream of how happy the customers are, and we can't deny that the designs are super cute. You can even get customisations done. To order, just DM them on Instagram.

Sangya Project is an online pleasure store that started out as a sex education platform. It was founded by a queer and poly family. In South Asia, where the idea of sexual awareness is still a taboo, Shweta Sangtani, Tanisha RK and Ashish Mehrotra seek to 'create a destigmatized, trauma-informed and kink-affirmative education that continuously makes room for new stories and new perspectives.' Braving the head-to-head of not just sex but sexual wellbeing, they want to shift the conversation from the cis male perspective to one that encompasses all genders and sexualities. The products advocate quality and discretion. From all-natural, pH-balanced, aloe vera-based lubricants to vegan contraceptives and sex toys, Sangya Project’s got them all. 

You might be familiar with this brand from Shark Tank India's Season 2. BeUnic is a queer driven e-commerce platform where individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community can showcase their talent and ideas that not only give them a professional boost, but help them financially as well!  The brand offers a diverse range of products from clothing, home decor, footwear, accessories and even stationary. We love how quickly their quirky and aesthetic designs and quality products have become our  one-stop shop destination for all our shopping needs!

Another initiative taken up by the transgender community and as seen on Shark Tank, Kineer is a packaged drinking water. The venture aims to provide packaged water facilities in the B2B segment. The company has provided their services to established brands such as Vistara, The Lalit and HCL just to name a few. The venture was started by Laxmi Narayan Tripathiji who is considered as the highest priest of the community and it  aims to provide dignified employment to the members of the community.