Cover image courtesy of The Erin Concept
In recent years, the fashion industry has seen a shift towards gender-neutral clothing, challenging the traditional binary of designing for men and women. This movement towards inclusivity and fluidity has been driven by designers who are redefining the boundaries of style, transcending gender norms and creating designs that cater to all identities and expressions.
Gender-neutral fashion is made to be worn by everyone. What we usually see in the world of fashion are designs that are made for a certain type of body and showcased accordingly. But as the world around us changes to become more accepting and progressive, fashion needs to keep up.
Design and fashion is a space for all bodies. Designers must accommodate all people and bodies while maintaining the integrity of the brand. This shift towards gender neutrality in fashion reflects a broader cultural movement to embrace and celebrate diverse identities.
We've seen plenty of leading ladies showcasing their style fluidity, like Harry Styles and Billie Porter, who are taking the lead on promoting gender fluidity and acceptance and taking the stage. Designers are working behind the scenes.
Rad Hourani is a New York-based designer who uses his skills to create gender-neutral fashion. He presented his first unisex, gender-neutral ready-to-wear collection in Paris for Spring/Summer 2008, and later in New York.
In a sit-down interview with Deputy, Hourani says: “For me, clothing is a reflection of who we are and the first way we express ourselves when we look at someone. Who decided that men should dress differently than women and their age?” , I could not understand who decided the other limitations we have in life, such as gender, religion, nation, or other boundaries that separate people from each other” (2015).
Harris Reid, who collaborates with Rudd to create fluid designs, is an up-and-coming fashion designer known for her approach to fusing elements from fashion, film, beauty, culture, and the digital realm, all from a gender-neutral perspective.
of Independent Reed is known for designs that challenge gender norms and notions of masculinity, and was featured during Harry Styles' photo shoot when he became the first man to appear solo on the cover of Vogue magazine. He is famous for creating one of the dresses he wore.
He also dressed Beyoncé for her 2022 British Vogue cover, Adele's Oh My God music video, and even designed one of her Las Vegas residency outfits. . ” (2023)
Reid's new book fluid is out now.
Fashion and design are art forms and through art we can create change. It's important for young people who want to get involved in fashion to feel like there's a space in the fashion world for them to explore.
Strikeout,
Leila Mehta
Editor: Ethan Cox, Kate Graham
Los Angeles
