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Orbasics - Why gender neutral kids clothes matter
Making clothes for every child, whatever their gender
You've probably experienced something similar: you step into the girls section while shopping for your kids and all you see is pink and purple, glitter and unicorns. Meanwhile, the boys department oozes blue and green, spaceships and dinosaurs. We all know the stereotypes. Gender distinctions by color, prints and style is something we come across every day as a parent.
But was it always like this? In this article, we explore how gendered clothes came to be, why gender-neutral kids clothes matter and how you can involve your kids in breaking with stereotypes.
The shift
Historically, babies and kids were actually dressed in unisex clothing for decades. It's only been since the 1980’s that the divide started, because then became possible to find out a child’s gender before birth. Nowadays, we are slowly changing our vision again of what is ‘for boys’ and ‘for girls’. When it comes to gender, we are in the midst of a big cultural shift - and it’s driven by millennials. Fifty percent of millennials believe that gender is a spectrum, showing that younger generations have a less rigid view of gender roles.
Boys, girls, unisex
It is rather strange that one gender can wear a certain color and the other one can’t, right? Even if a boy likes the color pink. Or when a girl is in love with monster trucks. The idea behind gender-neutral clothes is to remove the limits of fashion and let children’s personalities shine. As a parent, you can make a statement to break with the idea of gender.
But don’t feel forced to choose either. Gender therapist Dr. Christella Antoni was interviewed in The Independent about the subject. “There is an advantage to having clothes available that are more gender-neutral, but this doesn't mean they should totally replace clothes for girls and clothes for boys. In an ideal world, gender-neutral kids clothes should exist alongside these options.”
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What does gender-neutral mean? And is gender-neutral the same as unisex?
Defining gender-neutral kidswear is actually pretty straightforward. It simply means that a piece of clothing is made and worn without a particular gender in mind. A gender-neutral brand does not have a girls or boys section, but creates timeless outfits that look fantastic on any child. Some parents might worry that gender-neutral kids clothes will only come in grey or beige shades without real colours and seem somewhat dull. The opposite is true! The very idea of gender-neutral clothes is to embrace the whole spectrum of colours, styles and tones.
Gender-neutral, unisex, non-binary. It's easy getting a bit lost in these different terms. Thankfully when it comes to kids or baby clothes, the answer is simple. We can use the terms “gender-neutral” and “unisex” interchangeably, as they simply mean “for all”. Both help spread the message that outfit does not conform to any gender stereotype, that's it!
Why gender-neutral kids clothes matter
Gender is a fairly restrictive concept. When gender stereotypes are reinforced through kids clothing, it can send a limiting message to your little ones. Gender-neutral kidswear allows kids to express themselves exactly how they choose to. It allows them to select a range of clothing which let’s them be themselves and to develop into the unique personalities they are. By eliminating stereotypes as a parent, you create a path to freedom of thought and expression.
It is all about the motto: If you like it, wear it.
Next to this, unisex childrens clothes also have economic and sustainable benefits. Gender-neutral shapes and colors make it way more easy to share clothes. We are always surprised how quick our kids grow-up. Unisex kids clothes are shared with siblings and friends, no matter if it is a boy or girl.
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How do you involve your kids?
If you are aiming to raise your children in an environment that is free of gender stereotypes, here are a few - science based - suggestions. The subject might seem ‘heavy’ to share with them, but it can be as simple as giving your kids different toys to play with. Toys are vital for their development and when we stereotype a toy ‘for boys’ or ‘for girls’, we limit the skills they develop. So load-up the trucks, barbies and blocks.
Another suggestion is to let your kids play in mixed-gender groups to let them interact. Think of sports, birthday parties and playdates. The same with exposing children to a wide variety of grown-up role models. Introduce them to your male hairdresser or simply point out the female pilot walking by on the airport. The most important thing is to create a safe environment to explore and to focus on the positive side. It is ok to be different.
Where can I buy unisex kids clothing or neutral baby clothes?
Unfortunately, the large fashion brands have been slow to embrace the shift to more gender-fluid clothing. If we walk through the isles of big fashion houses, we still see outfits clearly intended for one gender or the other. Not to speak of the fact that these brands usually offer non-organic clothing that lack proper quality. Instead, small and independent fashion labels are driving the shift towards gender-neutral baby clothes, gender neutral toddler clothes and unisex kids clothing, breaking with gender stereotypes and the throw-away culture of the fast fashion industry.
This is where our small label Orbasics enters the stage. From the day we started our label, we wanted to make it easy for parents to find organic, ethical and unisex childrens clothes for their little ones. We never understood why girls should wear pink, while boys were stuck with blue. Instead, we love to create comfy wardrobe classics in timeless unisex designs that go with any outfit. Girls look just as great in our Pigeon Blue as boys do in our Dusty Pink and everybody feels equally great in our Mighty Longsleeve or Play-all-Day Leggings :)
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In the end, what really counts is giving our kids the room to express and find themselves, without an idea of what’s wrong or right. From a very young age, children are smart enough to know which hobbies, toys and clothes they want to experiment with. Offering our little ones a wardrobe full of gender-neutral kids clothes gives them the space to grow and explore their own preferences while being free of any stereotypes. As the American anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, “children should be taught how to think, not what to think.”
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1 comment
Perhaps the most difficult part of finding sustainable, quality, and gender neutral clothes is finding them for kids over the age of 6. Occasionally a line will carry to size 10/12 but beyond that is non-existent. Oh and finding these clothes in the United States is nearly impossible
