The colour (or rather, shade) black often gets a bad rap. Its literal darkness is conflated with negativity, evil, and even death in cultures across the world. I’ve always believed this interpretation to be a misunderstanding of what black is all about. On a literal level, black is the absence of all colour and light. But when painting, the mixture of all your pigments leaves you with a dark, near-black hue. Black, then, is nothing and everything all at once. 

Turn Black understands the unlimited opportunities that the shade of black can offer. The Delhi-based brand only creates black apparel, using different fabrics and silhouettes to create versatility through style rather than pigment. Simplicity and comfort are key for Turn Black, as the label embraces a “less is more” philosophy. They forgo skin-tight dresses for breathable, androgynous kurtas, oversized tops, and overlays, adding intricacy to their designs through delicate black-thread embroidery.

Their focus on black is bold, particularly in Indian fashion which traditionally centres on vivid colours and maximalist aesthetics. In India, wearing black can be especially taboo due to beliefs about the colour holding negativity and absorbing energy. As someone who has been criticised for wanting to wear black on holidays, to weddings, and whenever else possible, I can attest to the prevalence of this belief. Even outside of India, the colour black is often associated with alternative subcultures and counter-cultural movements, driving home the idea that something as simple as the shade of our clothes can be socially dissected. 

Nutan Dayal, founder of Turn Black, pays this criticism no mind. Rather than changing her style to subscribe to cultural norms, she embraced what makes her feel most confident and comfortable in her skin. This commitment to self-expression lies at the core of Turn Black’s philosophy. Although its apparel is designed to be easily wearable, the brand defies the odds through its very existence.

Turn Black also manages the feat of making it possible to wear black in the blistering Indian heat. Their garments are made with ethically sourced 100% cotton and linen, alleviating our guilt and our chances of heat stroke with every purchase. 

Follow Turn Black here.

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