Throughout history, the LGBTQ+ community has had a significant influence on fashion. Studies show that this influence first became noticeable during the 18th century. At that time, there was no distinct queer community, as all men dressed similarly. However, queer men began using clothing as a form of identification.
The interest in fashion among LGBTQ+ individuals emerged as a way to identify and communicate with other queer people and to fit in. Due to societal oppression and discrimination, queer individuals were forced into secrecy, leading them to pay close attention to clothing details.
Over the years, queer individuals have been at the forefront of fashion innovation, boldly challenging norms and redefining aesthetics. From iconic designers who have revolutionized runways to everyday influencers who have shaped street style, the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community have been pivotal in crafting the diverse and dynamic landscape of fashion as we know it today.
In honor of Pride Month, we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and its profound influence on the fashion world. Here are five LGBTQ+-owned sustainable fashion brands leading the charge towards a more inclusive and eco-friendly fashion industry.
Chromat
Price Range: €9,95 – €186,95
Size Range: XS – XXL
Chromat is a brand focused on future-forward bodywear, committed to empowering people of all shapes and sizes with perfectly fitting garments for everybody. Founded in 2010 by Becca McCharen-Tran, Chromat draws from her background in architecture. Each collection merges architecture, fashion, and technology to create garments that enhance the body’s performance through innovative design and technical fabrics.
Designed in New York City and Miami by a diverse team of artists, scientists, and choreographers, Chromat is inclusive, empowering, and sustainable. The brand’s swimwear is made from regenerated nylon, produced from fishing nets and plastic bottles recovered from oceans. This sustainable material can be recycled infinitely without losing quality. Chromat is produced in safe, ethical, and fair-wage factories in New York City and Sofia, Bulgaria.
Interested in Chromat? Please visit their website.
Official Rebrand
Price Range: €14,95 – €892,95
Size Range: XS – 5XL
Since 2017, non-binary artist MI Leggett has combined their passion for environmental justice and diverse gender expression to create the brand Official Rebranded. In just a few years, MI Leggett has showcased multiple collections during New York Fashion Week and Berlin Fashion Week and has been featured at international galleries, in Vogue, and much more.
Leggett’s experience in food justice has influenced their design process. They focus on upcycling and reworking discarded garments, addressing the fashion industry’s ecological impact. By altering these unwanted garments, Leggett removes gendered categories and creates a space where both materials and identity can be fluid.
Interested in Official Rebrand? Please visit their website or look at their Instagram (@official_rebrand).
Nicole Zïzi Studio
Price Range: €42,28 – €371,10
Size Range: Made-to-measure
Nicole Zïzi Studio is a black, queer-owned, fashion brand that specializes in streetwear.
Nicole Zïzi Studio is dedicated to progressive design, sustainability, and innovation in contemporary, gender-free fashion, accessories, and home essentials. The studio’s core values are circularity, community, and innovation. By focusing on creating new products with recycled, alternative, and natural materials, Nicole Zïzi Studio aims to uplift communities and minimize environmental impact.
The brand emphasizes ethical labor, fair trade, and excellent quality. Nicole Zïzi Studio partners only with manufacturers that uphold strict ethical standards, ensuring safe, healthy, and equitable working conditions. Regular on-site visits are conducted to ensure that workers have a voice in company practices.
Interested in Nicole Zïzi Studio? Please visit their website.
Jannike Sommar
Price Range: €12,00 – €330,00
Size Range: S – XL
Born and raised in Stockholm’s archipelago, Jannike Sommar is a queer fashion designer known for using bold colors and purposeful, naive designs to express their unique vision. Jannike, who uses she/they pronouns, developed their distinctive, almost humorous aesthetic from their experiences as An introverted lesbian navigating life between city and nature.
With a desire to create a queer fashion universe outside of heteronormative norms, Jannike moved to Belgium at a young age. They graduated in 2016 as one of the six master’s students from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp. After presenting their master collection, Jannike continued to evolve their instantly recognizable style, featuring bright colors, prints, patchwork, and striking ‘In Your Face’ figures.
Jannike stands for equality and has collaborated with various art performances, drag queens, and musicians. In 2020, they moved to Paris to establish their brand. As a non-conformist and introspective individual in a world dominated by norms and extroverts, Jannike Sommar created a visual language that proudly and loudly expresses their identity.
Interested in Jannike Sommar? Please visit their website or look at their Instagram (@jannikesommar).
Brownie Points
Price Range: €27,95 – €105,95
Size Range: S – 5XL
Brownie Points is a Black-owned and operated brand, designed by Texas-born, LA-based artist and comedian Rinny Perkins. Rinny’s 70s-inspired collages and self-published zines from 2017 evolved into a fully-fledged shop that celebrates authenticity and openness about dating, sexuality, and mental health.
Brownie Points draws inspiration from all things 1970s to early 80s. The brand prioritizes sustainability, using recyclable packaging and minimizing plastic in products and production. Brownie Points gives back to the community by supporting organizations like Project Row Houses of Houston, which promotes sustainable art and community enrichment in the historically Black neighborhood of Third Ward in Houston, TX, where Rinny grew up. They have also supported A Long Walk Home, a non-profit dedicated to ending violence against women and girls.
Interested in Brownie Points? Please visit their website.
Sources
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Image Credit: Nations Photo Lab via Pinterest
