The Gen Z pop group era begins, and here's all you need to know about it

(Clockwise) Shayan Pattem (in red), Kurien Sebastian, Hemaang Singh, Mashal Shaikh, and Bhuvan Shetty. Pic/Shadab Khan

The boys believe in free will

OutStation

Meet OutStation, a five-member band featuring Shayan Pattem, 17, Kurien Sebastian, 20, Hemaang Singh, 21, Mashal Shaikh, 22, and Bhuvan Shetty, 23. Mentored by global artist Savan Kotecha, the band is all set to launch their first EP, and to promote it, will be off on an 11-city road trip to interact with fans, local creators, and create a documentary about tour life.

Have you always been interested in fashion?
Shayan: I just grew up wearing what my mom used to give me. Later, I started experimenting with my own style. I used to play football a lot when I was young, so I started liking shorts a lot. And football is a stylish game.
I usually wear shorts or jorts most of the time.
Bhuvan: I like to keep it casual, but with a bit of layering like jackets that make a statement.
Kurien: I think I used to be the worst fashionable guy of the group. During the boot camp, I used to only wear boxers. Everyone would come in baggy pants, I used to come in boxers. But now since we've gotten a designer, Pari, she has influenced a lot of my style and I never knew I would love fashion so much. Every time she brings in clothes, I'm just sort of experimenting with different kinds of clothes.
Hemaang: My vibe's more streetwear. My fashion wasn't that great because when I was back in Prayagraj, I used to wear skinny jeans. I wore skinny jeans to the bootcamp once and everyone started making fun of me. I personally feel eventually skinny jeans will come back in trend. But you'll either see me in a vest, a tank top or in jackets. I don't like wearing T-shirts or shirts, but I like basketball and football jerseys. I don't really like really baggy jeans.
Mashal: I do not categorise myself in any genre. I like to draw and create my looks, I like the concept of something unique. I don't wear basic combinations like a T-shirt or pants. It doesn't feel like I'm clothed when I'm wearing that. And if I pull off something weird, I just love it, because it doesn't exist yet anywhere else. I'm wearing three layers right now and all of them are serving different needs. This [points to hands] sleeve is just for the gloves to show but it's a whole t-shirt. This is an overcoat jacket, but I just wanted a certain part of it. I use clothes as an accessory rather than an outfit piece.

Who are your fashion and style inspirations?
Bhuvan: I find the Japanese culture from the countryside really fashionable.
Shayan: A few years ago, my family and I visited Vietnam. Everyone's outfits there were so well-made, well-planned. After that trip, I bought clothes from there (our whole family got suits stitched) and I tried to style better. I think that trip kind of changed my style a little bit. I also follow off-duty styles of footballers. Again, I really like jorts. Summer is my vibe.
Mashal: The final product right now is just an evolution of what we already used to wear. When we went to Guwahati, we had a crowd of 10,000 people and they were all fashionable. So we have to level up our fashion. I think that was a point that we all had to really decide, because the audience can't be more fashionable than us. 


So how do you guys usually shop?
[Everyone except Mashal]
I just hate shopping! But we also like visiting thrift stores.
Hemaang: 
I usually get a lot of random clothes, and then I try, what works. I like thrifting a lot, like this store called Chyndy.
Bhuvan: I don't like online shopping, I never find anything good. I have to try before I buy. I buy different pieces from different shops, be it malls or stores, and then layer them.
Shayan: (Excitedly) We all wear each others' clothes.

What importance does fashion and style hold for your generation?
Shayan: (Your fashion) on social media is the first impression today that catches someone's attention and that's how they remember you. 

Mashal: We all have free will, so why should we stick to the same norms? Fashion can help us shape our character, however we want. Everyone should pursue their free will and their own selves. Fashion is a form of self-expression. And we all truly believe that - the five of us dress up differently and express five unique aspects instead of sticking to the same aesthetic like boybands.
Shayan: It's become even more popular now to experiment, it's okay to shop from like the ladies section.
Hemaang: What you wear is an extension of your personality, so you must try and express what you are through what you are wearing.

Do you think this approach is helping deal with toxic masculinity?
Mashal: There are some people who do not like jewellery, nail polish. It's illogical. We should look at nail polish as just some paint, it's not gendered. Jewellery too, if it looks good, it looks good, it doesn't have to be a women's thing.
Hemaang: Recently, I saw this really cool pair of shoes in the women's section and I love them and want to buy them. I even have a women's shirt. No one really knows when I wear it.

Bhuvan: [Asks keenly] Which one?
Shayan: 
I used to buy a lot of my pants from the women's section because the waist never fits me in the men's section. The women's section also has better quality somehow.
Kurien and Mashal: The pants in the women's section are so good bro.
Mashal: Go to the kids section also bro.

The girls like to keep it confident

W.i.S.H.

When Suchita Shirke or Suchi, speaks about being the tomboy of the group, this millennial writer immediately thinks about Sporty Spice, and their obsession with everything related to the Spice Girls in the '90s. Suchi, in addition to sisters Simran (Sim) and Riya (Ri) Duggal, and Zoe (Zo) Siddharth are members of W.i.S.H., a GenZ girl band which is set to release their first EP this month. The group discusses all things fashion and beauty at their Madh Island modern workspace where they live, rehearse and create content together.

(From left) Suchita Shirke, Simran Duggal, Zoe Siddharth, and Riya Duggal. Pic/Satej Shinde

How would each of you define your style personality?
Sim: Chic, Parisian, cutesy aesthetic, very girly girl. I like the mini skirts and long boots combo. A nice, cute, small bag that is very, very sparkly, very shiny.
Suchi: She's a Barbie girl [smiles]. My personality is very tomboyish. But I still like to add my sporty vibe to my outfit (Ri and me are Sporty Spice). I would like live in a jersey and shorts all my life only if I could. I like minimal dainty jewellery, nothing shiny or chunky. And I love shoes, and Hip-hop - streetwear is more of my thing, something that I'm comfortable in.
Ri: My style is glam, but not classy. It's sporty, athletic, but also femme. So it's like a mix of everything. I love maximalism in terms of accessorising. Makeup is a big part of my fashion personality.
Zo: My personality with fashion is thrifting, DIY, Y2K, experimental. I really like to find pieces that other people may not have. And even if they're old, I try to DIY them and make them new. Thrifty is the word. Super experimental even with clothing, like today, I can pair bikinis as tops with oversized blazers, boots. I'm ready to try odd things and somehow see if they'll work. Ri and I take styling very seriously.

Were the four of you always interested in fashion?
Sim: I wasn't really into it before, I would wear whatever my parents would buy. I didn't care much until college, once I started seeing Ri dress up. I would steal her clothes, get hand-me-downs from my relatives. She taught me how to do makeup. I shop a lot online now.
Suchi: If it was not for W.i.S.H., I would have never known how to style, glam, or makeup. 
But right now, I think I found what looks good on me. And these girls really help me a lot as well. Also my sister is a fashion designer and educator. She's made me some corsets and she is also someone who advises me about my style. If it was not for her, I would not know what cuts would suit me.
Zo: I wasn't interested in styling and makeup. But I love shopping because of my mom. I could be a professional shopper. I was lazy about makeup, but because of W.i.S.H., you have to do it every day. I started experimenting because I come from an art background, my mom is an artist, and my sister studied it. Makeup is almost like painting. My love for makeup is new, sometimes we still ask Ri what goes where [smiles].

Where do you shop from?
Zo: Currently, it's become a major passion project for me to go thrifting. Not exactly your regular malls, but I like to go on the streets. I recently shopped a lot at Sarojini (Nagar, Delhi). I know Hill Road like the back of my hand. I like the thrill of finding things. Also, Instagram shops.
Ri: Lokhandwala Market has been a huge part (for Sim too). It has everything, street vibes or crazy pieces that you can wear on stage too. Definitely Hill Road, and 
usual malls. I used to also shop at Colaba Causeway and Fashion Street when in college.
Suchi: I dislike shopping. You will see the light in my eyes when I go to buy jerseys because I love football.
Ri: There are also these Indian online brands that do great denim, streetwear, even corsets.
Sim: We have Instagram and Pinterest boards and saves and they really come handy when we are creating looks for videos.
Zo: Because of W.i.S.H., I have now started sewing and have even worn one of my outfits. Sometimes you don't find the pieces that you want in India. 
So now I'm trying to see if I can just make that.
Ri: I don't know how to sew, but I get things stitched from a local tailor, even up cycling. I've made jeans into a skirt and leg warmers and stuff like that. 
You know, there are many travel vlogs on how Vietnam's famous for quick tailoring, I feel India is underrated for tailoring.

Style inspirations?
Suchi: I have really gotten drawn to Tyla's look, the way she carries herself with those mini outfits, and she's really brought out her culture so well. I also like the style of footballer Lamine Yamal. I also like Marilyn Monroe's style and that era's style and corsets.
Sim: I really like Sabrina Carpenter's style, and love Zara Larsson's makeup.
Ri: Katseye's stage outfits, Dua Lipa, and K-pop.
Zo: Bella and Gigi Hadid, Dua Lipa. And since fashion is cyclical, I have been saving my mom's clothes now.
Ri: Sim and I do too.

How is fashion another form of expression for you?
Zo: I get to express my creative artsy side. It boosts confidence. I notice a big difference when I really like what I'm wearing, suddenly I'm ready for anything.
Sim: People take you more seriously when you make an effort.
Suchi: Having great style is like the cherry on top.