To Ford, having access to a good suit is a matter of dignity. “It’s not a man’s right of passage,” she says.
“Women are running businesses, and people who identify outside the gender binary deserve formal and elevated clothing so they can be taken seriously…it’s absolutely a gap right now, and it really matters a lot to make sure our community is represented in the best possible light.”
Sharpe Suiting was founded in 2014 by Leon Wu. As a transgender man, Wu had struggled throughout his life to find professional clothing that fit well and also made him feel comfortable and confident. The company has grown quickly. Since only last year, Wu says, they have increased their revenue by 240% and are projecting another 175% increase this year. “We are very lucky,” he says. “Our community has been very supportive. Our allies from the sidelines have been very supportive as well. In any queer business there are challenges because of sub-communities, but we work through it and operate from the perspective of inclusion.
“For me, it’s not even about the clothing,” she says. “It’s about giving them the confidence to share their story to the next ten people, whether they are a Sharpe customer or not. I think the more visibility in the world the better. Our bespoke experience gives people another opportunity to say, ‘I feel good in these clothes. I know who I am.’ And they’re able to do it at work and with family…I feel like every client is an opportunity to change the world exponentially.
The team hopes the increase they have seen in queer fashion companies is a sign that the fashion industry is moving toward a future that does not categorize clothing by gender. “If you have all of these queer fashion companies that are contributing to the industry,” says Wu, “then one day you won’t have to go to the menswear or women’s wear section. You can just go to a brand you like.”“One word I really like to use is gender equal,” she explains.
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