When it comes to making fashion inclusive and accessible, a Victoria upcycled clothing shop is far ahead of the retail standard.
Scrolling through the QThreadz Instagram page, tie-dye crop tops, floral kimonos and track suits are easily rocked by folks of varying genders and body sizes. The used clothing space is one free from the retail binary of menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 clothing sections.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e trying to create a space where there are no gender or sexuality expectations around what weB次元官网网址檙e supposed to wear,B次元官网网址� co-founder Mady Harber said. Her and her fellow founder are usually the ones modelling the items while the pandemic continues, but they hope to include even more body types in the near future.
B次元官网网址淲e want people to see themselves reflected in the clothing weB次元官网网址檙e selling,B次元官网网址� Harber said.
| Mady Harber, co-founder of QThreadz, said she has a passion for sustainable fashion and inclusivity. (Courtesy of Mady Harber) |
Clicking on an individual item, another inclusive aspect of QThreadzB次元官网网址� business model is revealed B次元官网网址� sliding-scale pricing. Harber works as a clinical social worker and therapist by day and knows from implementing flexible pricing there that it can increase accessibility.
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Perhaps the most important offering of the online shop, though, is its pay-what-you-can binder program. Binders and compression vests are often used by people transitioning from one gender to another, but they can be expensive to buy new, Harber said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a life-saving piece of clothing,B次元官网网址� she emphasized. So, whatever people can afford is what they pay. Harber said theyB次元官网网址檝e even managed to send a couple gently-used binders to people in Ireland and India who may have otherwise had a hard time accessing one.
QThreadz donates 10 per cent of all its regular sales and 50 per cent of its binder sales back into the queer community.
Harber and her partner launched the business last November, beginning with clothing of their own, donations from friends and some thrifted finds. ItB次元官网网址檚 a passion project, in that they love fashion, clothing and the sustainability of upcycling old items, but from the get-go the most important part for both has been inclusivity.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about pure expression and letting people know theyB次元官网网址檙e safe to buy whatever they want from us,B次元官网网址� Harber said.
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She hinted about an upcoming project that will expand support for the queer community even further, but couldnB次元官网网址檛 provide details as of yet.
B次元官网网址淲e want to continue to build a space where folks can talk about gender expression in clothing. WeB次元官网网址檙e breaking down those boxes and binaries.B次元官网网址�
Do you have a story tip? Email: jane.skrypnek@blackpress.ca.
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