Deshi goths in my home town

Goth is not for everyone. Simply put, it is mystical and dangerous; not everyone can tread that dark path. It is only for those who can relate to the way of life, and know exactly why they want to be goths. Dark or not, this way of life has certainly attracted a lot of attention over the years, especially with the unique adaptation to clothes. Typically considered a western idea, goth styling has come to influence our very own ‘deshi’ fashion over the years.

BOOTS, I LOVE

Goths in Dhaka wear vintage, or, on the contrary, super modern saris with a complex cut blouse. Their clothes include jabots, lace, and mesh elements. They flaunt corsets and harness belts, mostly on top of their saris and tops.

The main materials for deshi goth clothing are silk, velvet, denim, leather, and lace. Afsara, who is studying in the second year of Charukola, is not only an artist, but also into deshi goth. She says, “Other than black, I wear outfits (mostly saris) in deep dark colours like purple, burgundy, dark green and blue, some of which are dyed or hand-painted.”

As for footwear, besides traditional heavy unisex boots, deshi goth girls often flaunt army boots.

CELTIC CROSSES, DRAGONS, AND BATS

Just like the goths around the world, deshi goths are very fond of accessories. Instead of handbags, goths in Dhaka flaunt large backpacks and elegant mini cases. Original goth accessories are latex, leather, and metal chokers.

Deshi goths are fond of massive metal jewellery, with zero admiration towards yellow metals. They also wear rings, bracelets, pendants, earrings, etc. adorned with Celtic crosses, dragons, bats, black cats, roses, skulls etc.

JET BLACK TRESSES

Classic goth hairstyle is the straight black hair. Such a hairstyle is common to both boys and girls. Some romantic deshi goths, on the contrary, gravitate to curls and lush hairstyles. They often prefer to dye their hair in vibrant red or ash colours, contrasting with the saris or panjabis that they are wearing. Some deshi goth girls wear natural makeup, whereas some stick to the bold and vibrant ones.

Naheli, a tenth grader with ardent admiration for the Goth way of styling, said, “I like dressing as a deshi goth, wearing my vintage themed fatuas, black eyeliner, nail polish, intense eye shadows, and blood-red matte lipstick while roaming around the city.”

Hridoy, who claims to be ‘just another deshi goth,’ admits how he loves wearing vintage themed panjabis, pairing them up with some of his favourite Goth accessories.

The Goth image itself is very unique and authentic. It is chosen by flamboyant personalities who enjoy challenging the prim society. Not every person is courageous enough to pull off Goth fashion. Yet, if you like this style, but are not ready to dive into it totally, you can always start with adding a little traditional goth accent to your regular wardrobe, and indulge into the eternal universe of the mysterious Goth culture.