Unisex is not androgynous

Unisex is not androgynous

Can genderless fashion move beyond a  label?  

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The fashion industry has adopted the phrase  “Gender-Neutral” or more commonly “Genderless” as  its newest form of advertisement? 

Throughout the ages, fashion has been a form of self discovery, expression, the  way of finding and reassuring your personality. When we were kids, our parents  decided what we should wear, what colors and forms, when you hit puberty, a  sense of “rebellion” strikes upon us in every sense, our way of dressing is one of  the most touched ones. You energize your love or hate for fashion and trends, you  search for acceptance and inclusion. You want to feel you belong somewhere.  

 This self-expression has always been restricted by set norms. Fashion at its core is  art and art is to be explored and admired. What better way to explore this form of  art than to break down the boundaries between the masculine and feminine,  combine the best of both and do away with the concept of the gender binary?  The  idea of androgynous clothes is not new but has been popularized by queer culture. 

Let us take a deep dive into the world of androgynous fashion and  understand what it means, how it’s styled and how to incorporate  sustainability in our quest to embrace gender fluidity.

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Clothes and accessories feel highly limiting because of the gender standards that are in  place. On the other side, androgynous clothing does not fit into the usual "male" and  "female" categories. They support inclusivity and reject the gender binary. Nothing  should characterize a person's wardrobe. The easiest approach to express your non binary identity and diversify your wardrobe for the best possible appearance is with  androgynous clothing. 

Since its inception, unisex attire has been widely accepted and normalized. In reality, a lot of well-known brands already provide unisex clothing. The designs of  unisex clothing make it socially acceptable for both men and women to wear them. T shirts, pants, coats, sweaters, hoodies, and other items are examples of this. They  essentially fall into the socially prescribed categories of "male" and "female,"  respectively. 

On the other side, androgynous clothing combines the feminine and the masculine. It is  a style that actively defies the socially acceptable gender binary and the conventional  gender roles. That is unquestionably the largest distinction.  

But what does the genderless etiquette actually mean, besides brands  being able to double their market for every item?  

There is a risk that the gender-inclusive label could be empty brainwashing  when it comes to pitching trans and non-binary clients - branding and making  consumers fall into a false sense of security without providing anything tangible  like fit, function, and knowledgeable customer care. 

Though fluidity typically involves gender nonconformity performed, where  models of any identity walk the runway and show themselves in a particular  way while adhering to a mood set to them by a casting director based on a  designer's vision. 

Nonconformity and non-binary identities have been positioned in pop culture  and fashion virtually as a passing phase that disappears after a performance in  favor of the standard. However, for some of us, fluidity is who we are and how  we move our lives.

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