Everybody & Every Body
Juniper & Eve has 3 core values: Sustainability, Creativity and Inclusion.
I’ve talked about Sustainability in another blog post (read it here), and I can talk more about Creativity, ie. my design process, if there’s an interest. But with the launch of Juniper & Eve’s new collection, and what with it being Pride Month, I think its the perfect time to talk about the reasoning behind this collection - Inclusion.
The purpose of this collection, and my brand as a whole, is to create sustainable, comfy underwear for everyone across the gender spectrum. But why ?
Well, a few reasons. Let’s break them down into 5 parts.
1) Fashion shouldn’t be divided along gender lines.
With our growing social awareness of gender diversity and gender expression here in North America, the lines that divide fashion into ‘womenwear’ and ‘menswear’ are beginning to fade away. But they are far from gone. When I’m working with other professionals in the fashion industry, it is clear that these categories are still the functional method brands use to indicate their segment of the market. There are subcategories (loungewear, formalwear, business, etc.) but the overarching division is still along binary gender lines.
And I think that’s a problem. If we understand that there are more than two genders, why is this not reflected in the industry that makes our clothes? Does it not make more sense to simply indicate what the clothing is for instead of making assumptions about the gender of the wearer? (Is it a dress? Is it pants?) And if a garment is designed to perform a certain function, as is the case with some underwear, why not organize these garments according to anatomy? Well that’s what I’ve done, and I hope it helps.
2) Inclusion and representation matter.
With this project, I hope to help normalize gender diversity, both in the fashion industry and in my little corner of the social media digi-sphere. I know for a lot of 2SLGBTQ+ folks, we don’t see ourselves reflected in the media very often, especially those whose gender identities fall outside the binary. Equally, when we do find ourselves reflected in the media - on screen or in books and advertisements - it can be very exciting! It says ‘there are other people like me out there, who can understand me, who can relate to my experiences because their experiences are similar’. In short, it says ‘You are not alone’, and that can be a powerful experience, especially for young people.
3) Buying underwear should be easy, fun and safe for everyone.
The emphasis here on ‘safe’. Shopping for clothing can be uncomfortable or even unsafe for trans and nonbinary people. I can’t speak to these folks’ experiences - clothes shopping has always been relatively easy for me. But what I can do is reflect on my most positive experiences and try to provide the same for others. If you walk through Juniper & Eve’s (virtual) doors, know that you are welcome here!
4) Being comfortable can boost confidence.
I’ve designed this collection with effortless comfort in mind. Cheerful colours, soft sustainable fabric, uncomplicated style. But let’s face it, sometimes a good pair of undies can make you feel downright sexy! Clothing can play into our feelings of self-confidence, especially if they fit well and make us feel like our best selves. Getting dressed shouldn’t be a source of stress for anyone, especially over something as fundamental and universal as underwear.
5) Education and awareness.
I’ve organized my shop according to anatomy, not gender. By having to think about your own needs while perusing the collection, I’m hoping you’ll stop to consider the needs of the people who are different from you. In a way, I suppose I’m trying to foist awareness of gender diversity on you if you visit my shop (sorry, not sorry). But at the end of the day, hopefully the message that sticks is what you have in common with others, as opposed to what’s different. After all, we all wear underwear sometimes.
Now you know why I’ve taken on this project and what I hope to achieve with Juniper & Eve. This new collection is meant to be a starting point for achieving my goal of creating underwear for Everybody and Every Body. A starting point - ie. it covers the bases but there’s definitely still room to grow. If you’re here, if you’re reading this, thanks for being part of the journey! I hope you’ll stay tuned!
Things to look forward to:
more options in the pouch-front category
bralettes with pockets for breast form inserts
packing underwear
What else would you like to see? Get in touch! Seriously, I’d love to know!
Being a tiny, one-woman operation means that Juniper & Eve is a small brand with limited resources. But it also means I’m very flexible when it comes to the items I create. (It also means I don’t answer to any big, profit-driven corporate overlords!) So if there’s a type of underwear you need, a product you’re struggling to find, let me know! I’d love to chat with you about your needs and help you feel like the real, awesome, confident, fabulous You!
<3 Eva M.