I'm going into my final year of high school this fall, so it's about time for me to choose a profession. After giving it quite some thought, I think I'd like to go into the clothing industry. That brings me to my question:

If I were to start a clothing line for androgynous/trans/gender varient people, do you think you would shop there? I think it would be online, since chances are that a physical boutique wouldn't be financially feasible. It seems like a lot of gender variant people are frustrated by the wide gender divide in clothing, so I think there's potential. Also, a lot of places will tell us "dress in formless, boring things so no one will know your sex," which I think is bs. What do you think?

For reference, here is a shirt I made recently: http://zemmer.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2t6var

(On a side note, I'm think of going by either Lan or Echo, when I move away, but I can't decide. Which do you like?)

If you started a line, I might shop because I have issues finding clothing that I like that isn't either too masculine or too feminine.

I like your shirt, but I wouldn't wear it.  Maybe if you made something that didn't remind me of hot topic, I'd go for it.  But I like colors on my clothes.

Quote from: Shang on July 17, 2010, 10:04:42 PM
If you started a line, I might shop because I have issues finding clothing that I like that isn't either too masculine or too feminine.

I like your shirt, but I wouldn't wear it.  Maybe if you made something that didn't remind me of hot topic, I'd go for it.  But I like colors on my clothes.

That's good.

The shirt was made for myself, so it's only what I like. For sale, hopefully I'd have a variety of things, and probably custom orders as well.

I would love to see a line of clothes like that! Hopefully somethings for larger-breasted women trying to pass as men?   

Definitely not my style in any way (I'm Calvin Klein meets Abercrombie clone) but I think you could probably find a niche.

I like tHe shirt that you made,that is definitely my style. Keep it up and best of luck.

The fashion business is a lot like show business - in both of them the word 'business' comes second, but the reality is that if the 'business' does not come first you never get to do the fashion or put on the show.  So either find a business partner who knows business like you know fashion, or, make sure you're taking classes in marketing, business law, and bookkeeping as well as the fashion stuff.

I think they also have a lot in common in that from the outside they look all 'glamorous' but the inner reality is, as a friend of mine says a lot, 'all jackals and divas'.  For starters it's probably the most exploitive industry in the world - at its base, and in its heart, it's sweatshops and child labor (and pretty much as been since the Industrial Revolution).  Second, it's so cut-throat that it would shame pirates.

Clothing is one of the areas that has been the most successful (if you want to use that word) at keeping the bricks and mortar stores.  People really want to try it on, see the quality, touch the fabric and all that.

I don't know about clothing that's exclusively for androgynous / gender variant people, but I imagine there would be quite a market for androgynous / gender variant clothing.  Think of how common it is for people to wear clothing that's marketed to the opposite gender.  I think the only people who wouldn't be interested in well-designed gender-neutral clothing are the kind of people who habitually avoid using any products that aren't explicitly "for men" or "for women".  If you were to market your line as "androgynous clothing" instead of "clothing for gender variant people", you'd reach a much wider audience.  Just something to consider.

There are few places to work as brutal as the intersection of commerce and art.

Research and Development, and those Marketing people... 


Peace on Earth and Good will toward Mankind

I like your shirt but I'd like it better if it had some colour to it

I like the shirt, but not for me. I typically go for a little more formal, (collared shirts) style. I would definitely be interested in what you could bring to market though.

Well, I don't know all that much about fashion, but androgynous clothing is in, I think...apparently, men's suits are quite fashionable on women (I do look at the fashion articles on Yahoo).  I know you were asking about trans folk buying your clothes (I would love to have androgynous clothing, so yes), but it also helps if androgynous clothing is popular with cisgendered folks as well.  I liked the shirt you posted a lot and that look is in as well.  All I can say is do your best and good luck!  Make use of the interwebs!  You could always try to get on one of those fashion competition shows...Project Runway/The Fashion Show.  Anything to get your name out there is good.