10 Inclusive Brands to Shop for Gender-Neutral Clothes
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- Fashion is a way for students to express themselves.
- Gen Z students, including trans and nonbinary people, seek fashion free of gender norms.
- Successful brands are pushing past the binary limits.
College is a space for students to explore who they are. Fashion is a great way for students to express themselves and experiment with new looks that may not fit within the gender binary.
For 43% of Gen Z survey respondents, their assigned gender doesn't influence their fashion choices, and 64% have bought clothing marketed to a different gender than theirs.
Gender-neutral — or gender-expansive clothing — can be especially affirming for trans and nonbinary students who want to express their personalities unrestricted by gender norms.
The world of genderfluid clothing is only just emerging into the mainstream. And these 10 brands are among the ones going beyond the "men's" and "women's" sections. For them, inclusivity is more than just adding a third category — it's about making binary categories obsolete.
1. Both&
After being disappointed at the limited selection of apparel that fit both his style and his post-top-surgery body, Finnegan Shepard launched Both& to "empower, outfit, and serve the nonbinary generation, one garment at a time." Happy customers can also donate to pay it forward to those who cannot afford to shop there, simultaneously supporting community and small business.
Fashion Focus: ethically and sustainably produced, transmasculine essentials and basics, LGBTQ+-owned
Size Run: XS-4X
2. Lucy & Yak
United Kingdom-based Lucy & Yak has been selling signature dungarees for five years. Operating first online and out of Lucy Greenwood's parents' basement, the first brick-and-mortar opened in 2019 to drive the comfort movement and make sustainable clothing for all shapes and sizes. Additionally, Lucy & Yak partnered with Unidays to provide 10% off for students!
Fashion Focus: 10% off for students! Fun-prints, dungarees
Size Run: XS-4X
3. MX Apparel Design
No one could ever accuse CEO Maxine Britt's designs of being boring! MX Apparel Design centers trans and nonbinary people both by exclusively using trans and nonbinary models and by conducting extensive research into what trans and nonbinary people want and need from fashion.
Fashion Focus: LGBTQ+-owned, bold colors, prioritizing trans and nonbinary shoppers
Size Run: XS-6X
4. Lovaeij
Living up to the tagline, "By Fat People for Everyone," Lovaeij was born out of a desire to showcase and celebrate fat bodies as works of art. Undoing her own experiences growing up, founder Lotte van Eijk has made shopping fun again for all kinds of bodies.
Fashion Focus: fitted plus-size prints, inclusive modeling imagery
Size Run: 8US-34US
5. AwareWolf
This brand is perfect for those who are not ready or able to be "loud and proud" and are searching for a trans-owned small business to support. Founder Landon Reed's Awarewolf is an extension of his 2015 top surgery fundraising efforts and provides subtle ways to spread awareness through unique styles.
Fashion Focus: printed tees, LGBTQ+-owned
Size Run: S-4X
6. WILDFANG
Embracing "our masculine, our feminine, and our everything-in-between," WILDFANG's founders wanted to make fashionable clothes that fit all types of bodies. Their commitments to sustainability, a diverse team, and philanthropy showcase how brands can support their communities.
Fashion Focus: prints, fun-colored essentials, intentional inclusion, and sustainability
Size Run: XS-3X
7. Big Bud Press
Lacey Micallef and partner Philip Seastrom were tired of unisex clothing only looking good on traditionally masculine bodies when they introduced size-inclusive unisex everyday basics in 17 different colors. Big Bud Press boasts sweatshop-free and independently audited manufacturing while supporting multiple local small businesses owned by women and people of color through their vendors.
Fashion Focus: bold prints, workwear, ethical and local manufacturing practices
Size Run: XXS to 7XL
8. TomboyX
Two self-described tomboys, Fran Dunaway and Naomi Gonzalez, founded TomboyX to provide good underwear that made all kinds of bodies feel comfortable, regardless of size or gender. They've since expanded to offer activewear, swimwear, and other accessories in their quest to empower the LGBTQ+ community year-round.
Fashion Focus: swimwear, underwear, activewear, LGBTQ+-owned
Size Run: 3XS-6X
9. Dapper Boi
For many LGBTQ+ people, shopping for clothes can contribute to their stressors, an experience Dapper Boi co-founder Vicky Pascheknew too well. Growing tired of the looks she got and "men's" clothes that didn't fit her shape, Pasche and her partner, Charisse, wanted to create stylish, affordable, and affirming clothing for everyone. And with every new release, there is a three-week "intro pricing" period with up to 45% savings.
Fashion Focus: size-inclusive masculine basics, LGBTQ+-owned
Size Run: up to 5X
10. Stuzo Clothing
Stoney Michelli Love, an African-Panamanian artist, has carved out a judgment-free and gender-free space in L.A. fashion. Best known for bold and flashy designs, Stuzo fashions have been worn by celebrities Ruby Rose, Tiffany Haddish, Jada Pickett-Smith, and more.
Fashion Focus: women-owned, Black-owned, Latin-owned, LGBTQ+-owned
Size Run: up to 3X
