Gender-Neutral Fashion: Beyond the Binary
Cover Image Courtesy: The Erin Concept
In recent years, the fashion industry has witnessed a shift towards gender-neutral clothing, challenging the traditional binary constructs of men's and women's design. This movement towards inclusivity and fluidity has been propelled by designers who are redefining the boundaries of style, creating designs that transcend gender norms and cater to all identities and expressions.
Gender-neutral fashion is tailored to be worn by all people. What we typically see in the fashion world are designs made for and showcased on one kind of body; but as the world around us is shifting to become more accepting and progressive, fashion must keep up.
Design and fashion are a space for all bodies. Designers must maintain the integrity of their brand while also catering to all people and bodies. This shift towards gender neutrality in fashion reflects a broader cultural movement towards accepting and celebrating diverse identities.
We've seen many a-listers showcasing their fluidity in style like Harry Styles or Billy Porter, but it's the designers who leading the charge and working behind the scenes to promote gender fluidity and acceptance.
Rad Hourani is a New York-based designer who has been using his craft to create gender-neutral fashion. He showed his first unisex gender-neutral ready-to-wear collection for Spring/Summer 08 in Paris and has since shown in New York.
In a sit-down interview with Vice, Hourani says “For me, clothing is a reflection of who we are and it is the first way to express yourself when you see someone. I didn't understand who decided that a man should be dressed differently than a woman and all of these other limitations that we have in life like our age, gender, religion, nation, or any other boundaries that divide people from each other.” (2015)
Working alongside Rad in the strive towards fluid design is Harris Reed, a notable emerging fashion designer recognized for his approach in blending elements from fashion, film, beauty, culture, and the digital realm, all viewed through a gender-neutral perspective.
The Independent reports that “Reed is known for his designs that challenge gender norms and ideas of masculinity, famously creating one of the dresses worn by Harry Styles during his Vogue photoshoot when he became the first man to feature solo on the magazine’s cover.
He has also dressed Beyonce for her 2022 British Vogue cover and Adele in her music video for Oh My God and designed one of her Las Vegas residency outfits.” (2023)
Reed's new book Fluid is out now.
Fashion and design are art forms, and through art, change can be made. It's important for young individuals who want to be involved in fashion to feel like they have a space in the fashion world to explore.
Strike Out,
Leila Meftah
Edited By: Ethan Cox and Kate Graham
Los Angeles
Leila Meftah is a writer for Strike Magazine Los Angeles. Beyond writing, Leila is passionate about fashion, politics, and the whole city of London. She loves to travel, read, and try new foods. You can contact her via email at lnmeftah@gmail.com and on Instagram @leila.meftah.
