Zohran Mamdani becomes New York's new Mayor: Decoding his fashion

Dons a three-piece suit, visits the mosque and has a rapping past. Zohran Mamdani, the new mayor of New York City, has been ticking off all the boxes in truly changing the demographic of 'leaders' of the city with his fun-loving personality and crowd-pleasing policies.The 34-year-old Democratic Party candidate had been chasing victory for a year and has now made history as New York City's first Muslim and Indian-American mayor. NYC has had multiple mayors before, each with their own personalities and dreams for the city. Then why has Mamdani's candidature and win made headlines for months and hooked people around the world on what step he takes next?

While it would be difficult to believe, Zohran Mamdani has been dressing up for the post since childhood.

Even at 12, Mamdani understood the political eloquence of fashion as he walked around in his signature three-piece suit, surrounded by security, promising not to abandon the voters who voted for his win at the mock election in his Upper West Side private school, the Bank Street School for Children.While he dons his smile charmingly and shakes hands with exemplary energy, what he truly rocks is his suits. How do you spot Zohran Mamdani on the street? It will be a man crowded by supporters, smiling graciously, dressed in a button-down suit and tie, mostly black.

On his left hand, Mamdani permanently wears a Casio watch and a handmade ring, gifts from his wife Rama Duwaji. His right hand has two rings, one from his grandfather's pilgrimage to Mecca and another from his wife's trip to Tunisia.A leader donning the same kind of suits every day? Does NYC not get bored? Well, not really. Mamdani's signature style is his identity. It's how you spot him anywhere, on the streets or in gay bars and grab the chance to interact with him and maybe click a picture or shoot a video.

And while he is campaigning in Urdu, meeting with celebrities and dancing along to Bollywood songs, who has the time to see what he wears when you are focused on what new he is doing.

Born in Uganda and raised in New York, Mamdani's father, Mahmood Mamdani is a Ugandan academic born in Mumbai and connected to the Khoja Twelver Shia community with roots in Gujarat.Thus, Mamdani is a practising Muslim and part of the Khoja Shia sect, a community in India.

His open embracement of his faith is a dual sword he has been battling since his campaign days with some showing support and others throwing Islamophobic attacks.Since he started campaigning, Mamdani has personally visited 55 mosques and even delivered a powerful speech pledging to embrace his Muslim identity further, vocalising the "indignities" faced by NYC's Muslim population.He recounted how during his early years in politics, his uncle suggested he keep his faith to himself, a "lesson so many Muslim New Yorkers have been taught", and a situation he hoped to change.

Mamdani's victory as the new mayor of New York not only sets him apart as the first Muslim and Indian-American mayor of New York City but also symbolises the win of a leader in touch with the ground realities and the people's needs.While his work as a housing counsellor might have inspired him to take up politics, it's his view of the world and hope for the people, that have led him to the historic win.It seems New Yorkers are no longer impressed by a photo-op and a public debate; they need a mayor who observes, communicates, and executes - all of which Mamdani has been doing well so far.