How a cultural mix of community influences the style of those living in Pondicherry

In our fourth edition of ‘Can a City Influence your Style?’ we take a look at how the sartorial choices of those residing in Pondicherry draws inspiration from the local Tamilians, the French and the Ashram life

Is our sense of style shaped by the place we live in? How you dress is more often than not influenced by the culture of the place you call home. Look around and you’ll find people of all genders following a similar style aesthetic. Our ongoing series ‘Can a City Influence Your Style?’ is dedicated to understanding the style language that runs across places. 

Myriad influences

The quaint, well-planned city of Pondicherry is where you’ll find cobbled streets, churches with frescoes, heritage architecture and pristine beaches. Touted as the “French Riviera of the East,'' Pondicherry—or Puducherry, as many call it—has a fascinating demographic which includes the local Tamil population, those living in the French quarters and a number of expats who now call Pondicherry their home. This eclecticism is reflected in the way people dress—simple, easy and colourful.

For photographer and fashion stylist Shaheen Peer, the amalgamation of the place’s culture and environment is what defines the “vibe” of the city. “The culture is quite diverse here—there are Tamil locals, French locals, expats and tourists. This fluidity is reflected in the way they dress, which is quite laidback,” says Peer, who is originally from Chennai but moved to Pondicherry four years ago, after living in Mumbai and studying in London. “While I needed a change of place and pace, I also craved the familiarity of home. There's something about being around people who speak the same language as you,” she explains. 

Like Peer, Hyderabad-born model and content creator Aishwarya Chandrashekhar, too, moved to Pondicherry four years ago, after spending four years in Chennai, studying fashion design at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). “Pondicherry is a small town where most people know each other or have seen each other around. Locals don’t really care much about dressing up for a mid-week lunch or dinner with friends. If someone looks all dolled up with oversized accessories, make-up, in bright clothing, they’re definitely a tourist. You’d hardly ever find a local wearing something outlandish, structured or shimmery,” says Chandrashekhar. “The weather and the proximity to the beach are other reasons for people opting to dress in a less conservative style. Furthermore, there is the influence of French culture. Auroville, an international community where people from all over the world reside, is so close to Pondicherry, and it does influence the style of those living in Pondicherry,” she adds.

In some sense, Pondicherry can be likened to Goa—both are located along the coast, both have a sizeable number of tourists and expats who have moved there from across the world, and both reflect a calmer, relaxed way of life, as Bindu Reddy, a collagist, textile artist and founder of Bindusu—her clothing label—points out. “I definitely see an overlap between Goa and Pondicherry in terms of the way people dress. But with Pondicherry, you’ll see a lot of French influence, not just in terms of style but also in the architecture. You’ll also find people who are inspired by the simplicity of the Ashram [Sri Aurobindo Ashram] and the diversity of Auroville, both of which are in proximity to Pondicherry” explains Reddy, who packed up her life in Bengaluru and moved to Pondicherry two years ago.

Hailing from Pondicherry, for fashion designer Naushad Ali, the Ashram is a crucial visual reference that is seamlessly reflected in the way people dress there. “Historically speaking, the Ashram was the first to introduce women to shorts; not just here, but across India. It was to make them equally comfortable as men, while encouraging them to take part in sports or to just cycle around easily,” he explains. “The laidback approach to life here is reflected in everything, including clothing,” Ali adds.

Weather-apt choices

With the eastern part of the city surrounded by the Bay of Bengal, the climate in Pondicherry is similar to that of Goa—primarily hot and humid with torrents of rainfall. Thanks to the weather, fabrics like cotton and linen are what people gravitate towards organically, as Peer points out. “There is a lightness that is embodied in clothing here, whether it's the saris or kurtas or even T-shirts,” says Peer.

Ali agrees. For his own collections, Ali uses heritage and handloom fabrics to create small batches of minimally-styled tailored separates. “The clothing here is never formal or body-hugging. Cotton is always the preference as Pondicherry tends to get bright and hot,” he shares. “You’ll spot the local Tamilians wearing their sarees and dhotis, while most non-traditional folks, between the ages of 20 and 60, typically choose to wear simple, loose-fitted casuals made with sustainable fabrics, perhaps with some tropical or semi-ethnic prints on it,” says Chandrashekhar. “The overall style here is modern ethnic blended with western silhouettes. You’d also notice expat women in Indianwear, many a times even with a bindi on their forehead,” she adds.

Coming from Bengaluru, where Reddy had options to play with when it came to layering, in Pondicherry, she had to adapt to a wardrobe that was functional for the weather. “You don’t want to be sticky and sweaty, so I try to keep it light. I've always been someone who wears layers. When I moved here, I had to go down to one or two layers of clothing at the most. That was challenging for me because how do you look interesting and put-together with just minimal layers on you,” says Reddy.

Adapting to the city

While her home town of Chennai influenced the way she dresses, it’s the sense of colour that Peer has embraced since moving to Pondicherry. “I tend to spend a lot of time at Rock Beach, where I come across a crazy combination of colours, like the blouse or saris or pants. This is reflected not just in my wardrobe, but also my photography and styling work where I play with the colours I see around me,” says Peer.

Like Peer, Chandrashekhar heavily credits her style evolution to the coastal city. “I’ve transitioned from wearing slim-fit denims, T-shirts, short kurtas and ethnic wear to flowy kaftans, flared jeans, shorts and summer dresses. My everyday looks are casual and comfortable. I never would’ve thought of wearing a bikini on a public beach in Chennai but I feel so comfortable to sport one here,” she reveals.

As someone who lived in head-to-toe black, embracing not-so-dense colours was initially a challenge for Reddy. “I’ve had to find a different side to me in Pondicherry. I think there’s either a very light or a very dark version of me that surfaces, depending on where I am,” says Reddy, who now plays with colours and prints for her own collections. “One of my latest prints is just a splash of colour on a white background. It's handmade, happy, light and breathable. It really works well with this city’s weather and vibe, and that's all I really want to live in now, to be honest,” she concludes.

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