Azaad Bazaar

Azaad Bazaar is India's first LGBT pride store. Products are available online, at exhibitions, and at parties held in Mumbai and Delhi.

History

The founders of Azaad Bazaar first started creating products for the Mumbai LGBT community in 2006. At that time Section 377 of The INDIAN Penal Code classified gay [...] as an Unnatural Offense "Against the order of nature" punishable with a 10 year jail term. This law kept the LGBT community in India underground, and confined to private parties held in night clubs. It was at these parties that the first products (mostly handmade jewellery) were made available to the members of the LGBT community. These products were used by the community as a mark of pride in their identity, and also as a way for them to identify each other, and straight supporters.

In 2007 the "Jailbird T-Shirt" brand was launched. That first round of t-shirts was designed with one simple criterion... all designs had to be discrete enough so that “mom” didn't ask too many questions when it was put in the wash. Since then, Jailbird T-shirts have been a part of Calcutta Pride 2007, and Mumbai's very first pride march: "Queer Azaadi 2008".

By early 2009 there was an air of optimism within the community... the 377 case was looking favorable, India had had a series of pride marches, and two of Bollywood's biggest stars had actually agreed to 'play it gay' on screen.

On 12 February 2009, The Azaad Bazaar brand was officially launched. The product line includes home decor, mugs, glassware, jewellery, leather wear and t-shirts.