A growing list of genderless fashion labels in Australia
IMAGE VIA THREADGATE
Words by Isabelle Sacks AND FASHION JOURNAL
The future of fashion is unisex.
The demand for genderless fashion is increasing as we embrace the fluidity of gender more and more as a society. With so many experiences of gender out there, why should we be relegated to clothes that conform to such a limited binary of menswear and womenswear?
Of course, the blurring of gender lines is nothing new in fashion. What is somewhat new is our wider societal conversations about gender identity and expression, and our greater understanding of the arbitrary and often harmful effects of a rigid male/female divide.
Keep up to date with ethical designers over at our Fashion section.
Whether you’re leaning into your androgynous side or feel genuinely uncomfy in clothes that reinforce the gender binary, you deserve the best local, sustainable, ethically produced pieces out there, and hopefully, this list helps you find them.
People who aren’t cisgender are often overlooked by the mainstream fashion industry, so investing in brands like these can be a powerful way to vote with your dollars, too.
Just a quick note: fashion tends to throw around ‘genderless’, ‘gender neutrality’, ‘androgyny’ and ‘unisex’ somewhat interchangeably (which I’ve definitely done here), but I just want to acknowledge that these can mean quite different things. For my purposes, these terms serve to signify that the clothes are designed to be inclusive of all gender identities and expressions.
Minming Zhou
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Founded in 2022, emerging Naarm designer Minming Zhou combines traditional tailoring techniques with feminine silhouettes to create her androgynous collection. The label is inspired by the metaverse, with a plan to extend its physical pieces into the digital space soon.
Something Wonderful
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Australian genderless label Something Wonderful showcases a collection of vibrant, bold casualwear made for those who aren’t afraid of colour. Released in mid-2020, Something Wonderful’s graphic tees, crewnecks and hoodies focus on artist collaboration.
Australian Stitch
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Australian Stitch makes high-quality, locally-made basics – think perfectly cut crewneck sweatshirts, T-shirts and singlets and classic A-line mini skirts. And with every item ethically manufactured in Melbourne, you can rest easy knowing you’re investing in basics that support the local fashion industry.
Monphell
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Genderless Melbourne label Monphell is characterised by simple silhouettes and high-quality fabrics, imbued with personality through vibrant colours and unexpected prints. Working out of a small studio in Brunswick, Monphell creates timeless pieces “bound to no age, sex or season”.
Spunky Bruiser
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Tongue-in-cheek Sydney label Spunky Bruiser makes colourful patchwork creations from found materials, including overalls, bomber jackets, hoodies, pants and more. Each piece is a one-off, with made-to-measure items also available upon request.
Candice
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Since 2019, Australian label Candice has been creating pieces that allow individuals to express themselves, their personalities and their lifestyles. With a range that spans tailored button-downs, loose graphic T-shirts and fun accessories, Candice offers a colourful selection of pieces for all genders.
Something Very Special
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Australian-based label Something Very Special makes colourful clothing that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Inspired by beach culture, streetwear and urban living, Something Very Special makes vibrant printed shirts, suits and accessories for all occasions.
Pearls
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Born on the streets of Melbourne, Pearls offers the ultimate fusion of skateboarding, sewing and screenprinting. With an extensive collection of graphic T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, boards and accessories, there’s something for everyone (non-skaters included).
Spitsubishi
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Melbourne-based label Spitsubishi is redefining wardrobe basics with its cutout singlets, athletic-inspired baby tees and ruffle-covered black pants. The brand is about everyday sexiness while still feeling comfortable. All garments, fabrics and trims are made locally in Naarm.
Pseushi
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Eora-based label Pseushi designs a variety of tees and shorts for the everyday casual uniform. Founded by graphic designer Wesley Chiang, Pseushi offers essential classics and chooses to donate 20 per cent of monthly profits to the Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS) and North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA).
Bourgeois+61
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Genderless streetwear brand Bourgeois+61 offers a bold and refreshing collection of androgynous silhouettes. Mesh patterned tops and loose-fitting graphic crewnecks dominate Melbourne-Vietnamese designer Phoebe Thuy Trang Nguyen’s design work, for those looking to spice up their streetwear collection.
Threadgate
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Founded in 2016 by designer and screen printer Gemma Threadgate, her eponymous label is centred around creating practical objects and pieces for practical people. Offering a mix of clothing, bags and homewares in its signature prints, Threadgate is casual yet effortlessly cool.
All is a Gentle Spring
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Noting a varied range of inspirations – the Renaissance era, theatre and medieval warfare – All is a Gentle Spring designer Isabelle Hellyer wants to create clothing with extravagance. Judging by her latest release of a mesh, tapestry-esque unitard, I’d say she’s achieving it. Beautifully designed and a little magical, Isabelle’s pieces are ‘special occasion’ (or not, the grocery store works too).
Charles LeBrun
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Charles LeBrun is inspired by “basketball and inclusiveness” and its genderless range treads the line between streetwear and activewear. Designed and made in Melbourne, the comfy, breathable fabrics sit right and feel right on a range of body types.
Jarrod Reid
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Jarrod Reid is the Melbourne designer label crafting architectural silhouettes that push the boundary of the gender binary. From voluminous bubble sleeves to full-body pleating, daring designs have become a signature for the eponymous label.
Dallas Hurts
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Dallas Hurts is the Eora-based brand designing street style basics with a twist. From asymmetric vests to parachute pants, each piece is a ‘manipulation of shape and form’. Each piece is thoughtfully created from upcycled materials in designer Dallas’ warehouse-turned-studio.
Sock Draw Heroes
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Sock Draw Heroes is a trans-owned and operated business supporting gender expression for the queer and trans community. As an online store, they offer a variety of brands providing ‘gender gear’ like binders, packers and lingerie. Sock Draw Heroes also offers a variety of helpful books, blogs and resources.
Iordanes Spyridon Gogos
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Iordanes Spyridon Gogos’ (IGS) colourful creations are ‘wearables for the imaginative’. Every collection is about experimentation with colour, texture, print and silhouette – maximalism at its finest. As a genderless label, IGS is dedicated to sustainability with practice-led designs that can be worn by all. Think neon patchwork and avant-garde headpieces; a true testament to the convergence of fashion and art.
Hoddle
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Melbourne skate brand Hoddle was aptly named after the city’s downtown layout, the Hoddle Grid. Offering a little more than the expected tees and skate decks, the label’s collection is fun, colourful and perfectly irreverent. The Long Ranger vest – designed in collaboration with local artist Shannon Rush – is very ‘Melbourne effortless cool’.
Double Rainbouu
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Double Rainbouu designs for “beach baes and pool punks”. Its candy-coloured prints and graphic tees are perfect for a late afternoon in the sun. Created by Aussie natives Mikey Nolan and Toby Jones, the brand is an antidote to bougie resortwear, without compromising on quality.
U by Nique
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Melbourne label Nique has always had a monochromatic, androgynous-leaning aesthetic, but still wanted to put a stamp on a dedicated genderless range with its U capsule collection of lifestyle pieces. Ranging from sharply tailored pieces to relaxed knitwear, it’s clear that there has been a lot of thought put into the construction of garments so that they’ll fit any gender without being shapeless.
Consistent with the Nique design ethos, the unisex collection marries non-exclusive function with elevated basics that suit all aspects of everyday life. There are also a few outrageously fun items in there too, like this insanely good rose bronze jacket.
Best Jumpers
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Founded in Melbourne in 2018 by Australian designer Dylan Best, Best Jumpers offers elevated unisex casual wear. Best’s range of Japanese cotton tracksuits might be the main attraction, but there are some great skirts, parkas, T-shirts and hats on offer that deserve all the love too.
The brand takes a minimal and relaxed attitude to fashion, with influence being drawn from Best’s hometown of Melbourne and his time spent in New York. Using the highest quality fabrics and local production, Best Jumpers epitomises quality and attention to detail. I also feel like I have to mention that there are tops with wombats on them, just in case anyone out there is as excited about that as I am.
HoMie
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Melbourne-based streetwear label HoMie not only produces comfortable and quality apparel, but it also sends 100 per cent of its profits to support young people affected by homelessness or hardship across Australia. The brand is gender-neutral (you’ll find its core range packed with colourful hoodies), and every item is ethically produced in Melbourne.
The clothes certainly stand on their own two feet, serving up a mix of bold streetwear looks alongside more subdued, easy-to-wear pieces, but knowing that the money is going towards employment, training opportunities, and new clothing to people experiencing homelessness makes it all that much better.
A.BCH
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A.BCH gets major props for its role as a truly pioneering circular fashion label (as it should), but it also gets credit for doing away with its gendered sections in-store and online. A.BCH is an independent Melbourne fashion label founded on total transparency in an effort to provide honestly engineered fashion for conscious consumers.
From sourcing sustainable fibres, threads and components to advocating for local manufacturing, A.BCH considers the entire lifecycle of each piece it makes. Designed for the discerning eye and those with a fondness for a neutral aesthetic, A.BCH’s offering is a line of earth-elevated basics. The label doesn’t have men’s or women’s sections on its website and the designs are not overtly masculine or feminine, but Courtney Holm does design with gender in mind.
Lonely Kids Club
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Warwick Levy is the founder of Sydney fashion label Lonely Kids Club (LKC), a fully independent label that prides itself on being gender-neutral and ethically produced. Street-style comfort, positive mental health and sloths are the vibe for this label. LKC prides itself on a fully inclusive unisex range filled with pop culture quirks.
It offers fun graphic t-shirts, funky patterned jackets, dresses and jumpers – not to mention dedicated social distancing, Bob Ross and Danny Devito collections (obsessed). It also ensures fair labour practices and small-batch production to provide quality products that we can feel good about purchasing.
Kodama
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Kodama is a sustainable, unisex streetwear brand designed and made in Melbourne. Started by designer Natsuko, who is originally from Japan but grew up in Australia, the apparel is inspired by Melbourne’s culture, excellent coffee and fashion scene.
Kodama specialises in basics made from certified organic cotton and outerwear, with a range of overcoats crafted from eco-friendly materials. The clothing is generally neutrally coloured, with a few bright T-shirts, so it’s great for stocking up on sustainable wardrobe staples.
Genkstasy
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Formed in 2017, Genkstasy is a multi-gendered fashion label, working to cater to all the beautiful bodies on the gender spectrum, using sustainable fabrics and ethical practices. Having felt the isolation many of us suffer from feeling ‘other’, the founders were inspired to create a fashion label that focuses on bringing colour and connectedness to people’s lives. A big part of the design ethos is the consideration of how the garments will perform in states of play, movement, freedom and joy.
Strateas Carlucci
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Androgyny-forward Melbourne brand Strateas Carlucci is a creative collaboration between designers Peter Strateas and Mario-Luca Carlucci that has been going strong since 2013. The pair have cultivated a strong aesthetic with a focus on construction and tailoring, referencing utilitarian elements and using the best quality fabrics and unique techniques.
It is defined by its deconstruction of androgyny and its subtly subversive yet playful clothes. Strateas Carlucci does design distinct men’s and women’s collections, but they are conceived as a unified whole rather than separate ranges, with tweaks made to the same concept that exists in both ranges and encouragement to pull from whatever range you feel most comfortable in.
Ocray44
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Born in January this year, Naarm-based brand Ocray44 is the creation of local designer Zoe Crow. Known for its iconic hand bleached caps and totes, Ocray44 has begun evolving its gender-neutral collection through the introduction of apparel. Exploring androgyny through the release of knitwear and hoodies, Ocray44 is challenging the boundaries of expression and designing pieces to be celebrated and worn by all.
Kloke
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Founded in 2011, Kloke is the brainchild of Melbourne couple Amy and Adam Coombes. While initially the brand was designed in clear men’s and women’s categories, Kloke’s collections increasingly celebrate unisex styles through genderless and considered cuts, muted natural tones and a vintage feel. Think a well-tailored, androgynous update on your Grandmother’s 1970s wardrobe.
Hew Clothing
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The founder of Hew Clothing, Ema Hewitt, is focused on creating ethical designs in collaboration with local Melburnian artists. Incidentally, the organic hemp, linen and bamboo pieces she creates are increasingly gender-neutral. Hew Clothing offers loud, experimental prints and has a focus on quality fabrics. I’ve got my eye on its latest loungewear range in a brilliantly bright red and blue check.
Nagnata, Sama
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Sama is the gender-fluid line released by luxury fashion brand Nagnata. Nagnata has always valued sustainability, using materials that benefit both our bodies and the planet. Its other primary mission is inclusivity, and Sama, which means equal or same in Sanskrit, has allowed the brand to broaden its community. Pieces featured in the Sama collection are consistent with the Nagnata aesthetic that symbolises movement, flow and comfort.
Willem Worldwide
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While Willem Worldwide is technically based in Aotearoa, its dynamic genderneutral collection definitely deserves a spot. The label’s signature sets are delicately handmade in soft materials like velvet, micro-mesh and wool, designed to contour and flatter the body. Described as ‘armour for the other’, Willem Worldwide embraces flexible, romantic movement-based design.
Moss Tunstall
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Melbourne-based label Moss Tunstall gained popularity for its one-off repurposed denimwear, covered in playful motifs, acid-bleached details and a rainbow of colours. Now expanded into tees and totes, the brand’s label-free, experimental collections are highly anticipated by the local fashion set.
Wackie Ju
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Founded in Melbourne by designer Jackie Wu, Wackie Ju is a multidisciplinary practice dedicated to embracing a non-binary utopia. The collection aims to break free of gendered norms and identities, drawing inspiration from mundane political and social issues. Each piece is produced locally, incorporating elements of couture, cultural identity and multimedia.
Twoobs
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Sisters Jess and Stef Dadon are the founders behind Australian ethical footwear label Twoobs. The pair share a passion for creating shoes that are kinder for both your feet and the planet. Made with sugar cane soles and vegan leather, the colourful range is super comfortable and totally unisex. Each pair purchased offsets carbon emissions so you can do better with every step forward.
Gary Bigeni
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Australian fashion designer Gary Bigeni injects a playful sensitivity into his label through a range of colourful, genderless designs. A beloved figure in the Australian fashion scene, Gary explores shape and print in a new, refreshing way.
Sschafer
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Melbourne-based designer Stephanie Schafer is all about taking a genderqueer approach to design. Fusing themes of sexual liberation, rave culture and utility wear, Steph’s collection is interesting, inclusive and delicately constructed. Bustier corsets and cut-out jeans for all.
Ramp Tramp Tramp Stamp
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Ramp Tramp Tramp Stamp (or RTTS, for short) is the brainchild of Sydney designer Niamh Galea. Empowering all bodies through inclusive, flexible-fit design, Niamh’s designs play with the notions of femininity and masculinity. The g-strings and velour tracksuits are the wardrobe staples you didn’t know you needed.
Bonds
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The iconic provider of socks and jocks nationwide released a gender-free collection. Produced in soft recycled materials, the range of joggers, hoodies, pullovers and comfy shorts is very wearable (too wearable, it’s hard to resist the urge to wear sweatpants everywhere). Mixed with the existing pieces in your wardrobe, the muted neutral pieces are great trans-seasonal staples.
Sucker
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Artist-run fashion marketplace Sucker is all about supporting Naarm’s shiniest creative talent. Alongside stock from some of the city’s favourite designers, Sucker carries its own range of screen-printed hoodies, tees and pullovers, plus utility-inspired outerwear and upcycled denim.
Erik Yvon
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Erik Yvon is the Naarm-based fashion designer redefining understandings of femininity and masculinity. The brand has a strong focus on sustainable and ethical production, while Erik’s design inspirations come from art, everyday surroundings and his origins in the island of Mauritius. Think bright colours, textured fabrics, crochet and beads.
Jude
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Coming from a background in fine arts, designer Jude Ng offers a unique perspective on fashion and design. Combining the off-beat use of shapes, colours and textures, Jude creates unconventional pieces with quirky and unexpected proportions. Jude designs are made to be accessible to all customers, regardless of age, size or gender.
Vincent Li
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Vincent Li creates pieces that blend both the feminine and masculine components of design. The brand’s collection is designed to usher the wearer toward a new way of dressing, offering unique cuts and shapes in a variety of consciously-made fabrications.
Clothing the Gaps
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Aboriginal-led social enterprise Clothing the Gaps creates clothing and accessories designed to celebrate Indigenous people and culture, encouraging shoppers to ‘wear their values on their tee’. With a belief in making clothing with meaning, Clothing the Gaps holds an Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation and chooses to reinvest in impact through the Clothing the Gaps Foundation.
Read more about the future of genderless fashion here.
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