These 5 Gender-Fluid Fashion Lines Are Changing the Game
Photo:
H&M
The last two years have seen the rise of fast-fashion brands like Zara and H&M announcing the arrival of their very own unisex fashion lines. Zara's now-defunct Ungendered line was met with mixed reviews—well intentioned but lacking in execution, which consisted of basics typically found in the men's department but lacked typically female-coded items like dresses or skirts. A year later in 2017, H&M released a line of unisex denim simply called Uni. Despite the difficulties mass-produced fashion merchandisers have to hurdle in creating successful gender-fluid clothing lines, independent designers have flourished in the space, pushing their evolving designs to reflect ever-changing notions of gender, sex, and self-representation through clothing.
Keep reading to learn more about five gender-fluid fashion lines that are changing the industry.
Agender
South Korean brand Agender is new to the fashion scene, getting its start in 2017. The line describes itself as unisex, focusing on modern, casual pieces with an athletic edge. Polo shirts, track pants, and windbreakers get a vibrant reimagining while clean lines and oversize silhouettes define the brand's style.
Toogood
Unisex outerwear defines English fashion line Toogood, started by sisters Faye and Erica Toogood (their real family name) in 2013. Toogood is characterized by its mostly neutral color palette, structured shapes, and strong silhouettes influenced by the sisters' interest in architecture and sculpture. Speaking to the brand's unisex ethos, the sisters said in an interview with Leclaireur, "The audience is ready for it: Is it cut on a man? Is it cut on a woman? It doesn't really matter. Is that size a man's size or a woman's size? It's irrelevant now. We now know that gender-specific clothing is irrelevant for this generation."
Blindness
South Korean brand Blindness made waves with its debut runway show at F/W 16 Seoul Fashion Week, showcasing modern unisex pieces that make use of a varied color palette and bold patterns. Founders Kyu-Yong Shin and Jong-Taek Lee craft a minimalistic, contemporary mood with Blindness, blending timeless pieces with defining details from pearls to embroidery.
Stampd
Stampd provides laid-back West Coast streetwear in classic silhouettes. A muted color palette makes itself prominent in the brand's collection, which takes most of its cues from skater style and is rife with oversize tees, athleisure staples, and distressed denim. Clean patterns and the odd powder-pink detail add interest to the line's minimalistic style.
69
Primarily focusing on high-quality denim pieces, 69 defines itself as a "non-gender, non-demographic clothing line." A '90s street-smart aesthetic permeates the collection while the backstory to the brand remains an enigma—the founder resolutely keeps their identity anonymous. Relaxed silhouettes and deconstructed shapes give 69 a style that is wholly unique.