The fashion industry is notoriously not so great for trans and nonbinary people. Most gender-neutral options are just âquirkyâ T-shirts or âneutralâ colored clothes, which have been accurately described as âgrey [and] brown sack[s]â. Most retailers categorize their apparel sections as âmenâsâ and âwomenâs,â leaving people outside of the gender binary with nowhere to turn. Yet more challenging: Menâs sizes are typically more straight-cut and slim-fit, with no real room for curves in the chest or thighs, and womenâs sizes often run smaller but account for more curves, like hips and breasts.
I went on a mission to find the best places to buy gender-inclusive clothing. I asked friends, colleagues, various Facebook groups, and gender-fluid and non-binary individuals where they shop. As I’m cisgender, I can only speak from my research, but I tried to make sure everything included was not specifically tailored to one gender or another. No matter how you identifyâcis, trans, nonbinary, and so onâhere are the 10 best retailers out there for gender-inclusive clothing.
1. Big Bud Press
Prices: $$$
Sizes: XXS – 7XL
Return/Exchange Policy: 14 days
After discovering Big Bud Press, Iâve been telling everyone I know about it and how awesome its clothes are. The L.A.-based company takes monochromatic fashion to a new level, with pieces in a rainbow of colors. And get this: Everything comes in sizes XXS to 7XL, which is larger than what even most plus-size retailers offer. Big Bud Press prides itself on sustainability, claiming it sources most materials locally and uses recycled yarn for all of its non-cotton fabrics.
When I say thereâs a variety of clothes to choose from, I mean thereâs a variety. Youâll find T-shirts, polos, button-downs, crop tops, overalls, sweatpants, socks, bandanas, and more. And you canât talk about Big Bud Press without mentioning the jumpsuits. Described as âa form-fitting unisex jumpsuit that breaks in with wear,â each one is made of soft cotton twill and comes in pretty colors and patterns. The one downside to this retailer is the price: Should I pay $195 to look like a sexy mechanic? Noâ¦. but will I? Maybe.
2. Stuzo Clothing
Prices: $$
Sizes: S-XXXL
Return/Exchange Policy: 14 days
Based in L.A. but with New York roots, this Black-owned, woman-owned, and queer-owned business’s mission is to âcreate a space in the fashion world where all are welcome without judgment.” Many celebrities have been seen wearing Stuzo clothes, including Ruby Rose, Tiffany Haddish, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Spike Lee. The clothes are the epitome of cool streetwear: mostly T-shirts, sweatshirts, and joggers with fun phrases printed on them. A lot of the shirts celebrate Black power, but thereâs also plenty with gendered terminology exclusive to non-binary people, like FemBoi, Shero, and Woman Up.
3. Lucy & Yak
Prices: $$$
Sizes: 2-18
Return/Exchange Policy: 30 days for refund only, no exchanges outside the UK
If youâre of the belief that overalls (a.k.a. dungarees) are a staple of non-binary fashion, Lucy & Yak is the place to snag a pair. Cotton, corduroy, twill, or denim; solid colors, floral prints, polka dots, or tie-dye; shorts or longâthere are so many styles to choose from. Even better? Most of the fabrics are made with either organic or recycled materials.
Although Lucy & Yakâs clothes only go up to size 18, itâs working on âincreasing core products to UK 28 (US 24).” And if overalls arenât your style, the brand also sells funky pants and jeans, dresses, shirts, skirts, tops, and jumpsuits.
4. Flavnt
Prices: $$
Sizes: XS-5XL
Return/Exchange Policy: 14 days
This Austin-based clothing brand encourages its customers to be comfortable with who they are and unafraid to flaunt their uniqueness to the world. By queer people for queer people, Flavnt doesnât believe in “menâs” or “womenâs” clothingâinstead it makes âclothes that promote self-confidence and self-love.â It sells adorable graphic shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, socks, and hats, and also has a whole line of binders, which flatten and smooth the chest.
5. Gender Free World
Prices: $$$
Sizes: 4-20
Return/Exchange Policy: 28 days
Founded in 2015, Gender Free World (GFW) designs shirts with a âgender-neutral sensibility to fit body shape.â It understands that everyone has a different body: You have to consider height, width, hips, chest, shoulders, thighs, and much more. Standard womenâs sizes donât fit all women and standard menâs sizes don’t fit all men, so GFW came up with a more inclusive solution.
After intensive research, GFW created four body-shape templates, which it named Alex, Billie, Charlie, Drew. “Alex” is for wider hips, “Billie” is for larger busts, “Charlie” is for shoulders and hips of similar proportions, and “Drew” is for broad shoulders, narrow hips, and a longer torso. These styles still donât encompass everyone, but itâs a step in the right direction, allowing you to shop for clothes based on size and shape rather than gender. Finally.
6. Peau De Loup
Prices: $$
Sizes: 2-20
Return/Exchange Policy: 15 days
Peau De Loup specializes in âwell-made button-down shirts for bodies with curves.â Each shirt has a clever pleat in the back that you can remove with a seam ripper for an extra 1.5 inches in the chest. This prevents the dreaded gaping that bustier people are all too familiar with. PDL also uses upcycled fabrics as part of its dedication to sustainability.
All PDL shirts feature a secret inside pocket on the left breast so you no longer have to stash your essentials in a shallow outer pocket or, worse, in your bra. The pocket is big enough for your cash, cards, and even your phone. Genius.
7. Genuine Valentine
Prices: $
Sizes: XS-4XL
Return/Exchange Policy: 30 days
With shirts that say things like âBeyond the Binary,â âEnby,â (as in NB, or non-binary), and âAll genders are valid,â itâs clear that Genuine Valentine is a truly gender-inclusive retailer. This is a great place to shop if youâre looking to fill your wardrobe with quirky shirts that let the world know that youâre a âGender Enderâ, âNot a Lady,â or âNot a Dude.â Thereâs something for everyone at Genuine Valentine, no matter your gender identity or sexuality.
8. Dfrntpigeon
Prices: $$
Sizes: S-XXL
Return/Exchange Policy: None listed
Based out of Portland, Oregon, Dfrntpigeon is one of my go-to gender-inclusive shops. Like all on this list, it embraces the idea that clothes should be for anyone and everyone. One of its most popular designs features symbols that celebrate a variety of communities: lesbian, gay, non-binary, trans, disabled, Black power, and so on. Itâs a simple way to show solidarity, and comes printed on a T-shirt, cropped hoodie, and bodysuit.
The selection at Dfrntpigeon is limited but full of clever and cute pieces, like the âCinnamon Rolls, not Gender Roles” tank and the âHang in Thereâ tee with a bat hanging upside down. Plus, the brand commissions all the designs from “at-risk youth” with the aim to help them develop their creative abilities “into a potential career path through paid design work and mentorship from professionals in the creative field.”
9. MegEmiko
Prices: $
Sizes: XS-4XL
Return/Exchange Policy: None listed
There are so many good queer Etsy shops out there. One of my favorites is MegEmiko, which offers a ton of gender-inclusive clothing. Choose from T-shirts and sweatshirts that proudly exclaim things like âProtect Trans Kids,â âYou Are Valid,â âProtect Black Lives,â and âStop Asian Hate.â The shop also says that it donates a portion of proceeds from most of its products to a relevant charity.
MegEmiko has over 10,000 sales and a perfect 5-star rating on Etsy. Just take note: The website says its clothes run small, so if you’re looking for a looser fit, you may want to size up.
10. Cilium
Prices: $$$
Sizes: 1 (23-27″) – 6 (58-62″), dependent on what type of clothes youâre getting
Return/Exchange Policy: 30 days
Rewind to 2009, when friends Tilly D. Wolfe Lapidos and Thom Barranca shared a homeâand a wardrobeâand began to question gender in clothes. They worked together to create âtransformable, unisex, sustainable clothingâ under the name TillyAndWilliam, which led them to New York Fashion Week in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Fast-forward to 2018 when they debuted their new company name: Cilium, which is the protective layer around a cell and a play on how clothing covers a body.
These clothes celebrate and explore innovation and movement through gender inclusivity, and include dresses and rompers to pants that can also be worn as shirts: The âSplitsâ are trousers that split apart to become a cross-body shirt, or you can shimmy your whole body into one leg/sleeve and turn it into a dress. The numerical sizing is unique to the brand, but Cilium provides a chart on its site so you can find the right fit.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
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