Supporting Black Queer Labels is En Vogue

And it always has been.

Pride apparel has become somewhat distanced (read: completely severed) from Pride’s original aims. Stonewall was an upheaval of the status quo, one led by trans womxn of color, a subversion of existing command hierarchies. Nowadays, those same hierarchies persist, only appropriated through rainbow filtered lenses. One can’t help but wonder, what’s so subversive about a Pride themed sock?

The answer is, quite literally, not much. Still, there’s merit to the normalization of previously ‘outlandish’ sexualities, even as it comes wrapped around an ankle. And if proceeds of the purchase go towards actively supporting the queer community, all the better. 

Here, we’ve compiled a few labels to support, ones which are actively working at the intersection of marginalized identities. Reclaiming Pride from its contemporary, corporatized connotations is no easy feat. Yet these individuals do so one collection at a time, paving the way for others to come. 

A Tribe Called Queer

Founder Sabine Maxine notes “People need to support Black queer brands every single day, not just during Pride! Every. Single. Day.”

We wholeheartedly agree. Support Maxine here, knowing a portion of your purchase goes towards organizations such as Black Lives Matter and Project Q, the latter which provides a variety of services to homeless LGBT youth. 

Stuzo Clothing

Stuzo’s founders, Uzo Ejikeme and Stoney Michelli Love, make products that “empower and remind our community that we are stronger together. That we are stronger than we know ourselves to be due to the systemic oppression of people that do not fit into the binary world that we have lived in.”

Their thoughts translate into action, as 95% of their hires are Black, queer, and/or non-binary. 

Telfar

Telfar, a unisex clothing brand established in 2005, regularly assists bail funds and decarceration efforts. That, and their bag is an iconic (and affordable) staple. Support Telfar here

No Sesso

No Sesso means “no sex/gender” in Italian, fitting for a house which continually breaks down existing binaries. The brand, led by Pierre Davis, was the first transgender-owned line on the New York Fashion Week lineup, aiming to make space for other Black queer designers. 

“There is work that needs to be done for our Black trans brothers and sisters, and we need to make sure we include queer identities when we say Black lives matter,” Davis said. “We need to feel safe in knowing our Black brothers and sisters stand with us and should be held accountable just as much as anyone else when it comes to the violence against Black trans bodies. Again, it needs to be known that ALL Black lives matter.”

Mack the Tailor

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𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧… 𝐈’𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟒/𝟕 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐰 𝐦𝐲 𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟..⁣ 𝐈’𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞. ⁣ ⁣ So whatever you wanna do in life, stop waiting for tomorrow. 𝐃𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲! 𝐏𝐔𝐒𝐇. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍.⁣ ⁣ Pray about what you are uneasy off. Your story is already written and you are destined for success. Whatever is stopping you… LET IT GO.⁣ ⁣ I am here if you need a ear. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐘 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐘 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬. Don’t be ashamed of your tribulations right now. They are building you! You are becoming the person you always wanted to be. ⁣ ⁣ I Sew Love Y’all- Mack #tailor #studsofinstagram #fedora #floral #sewsewsew #sewistofinstagram #whatiwore #custommade #memade #blackblogger #blackbloggersclub #blackwealth #blackwork #motivation #wordsofencouragement #faithquotes #yougotthis #yourock

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Destinee Macklin lives with CRPS, a debilitating condition, though that doesn’t stop her from designing bold patterns with kente cloth. “What you wear tells your story,” she writes on Instagram. “I just hope mine tells the story of someone fighting their toughest battle and surviving it.”

Kris Harring

Harring is an FIT graduate with her own line of genderless fashion. Besides creating innovative products, she is also working on a study aiming to ease the transition of the fashion industry into gender fluid design. Support her work here

Phlemuns

Phlemuns is the creation of James Flemons, featuring an assortment of unisex apparel. His work has been adorned by the likes of Lizzo to Solange, gracing the covers of Nylon to TIME. Support Flemons here

And, of course, remember these are only a select few of the many Black, queer designers to support. Incorporate their work into your everyday life, not just in June. And remember, this is all the minimum. 

 

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