Harris Reed and Alok Vaid-Menon: “The Future of Fashion Is Gender Free” | BoFVOICES 2021

At this year's edition of VOICES, performance artist Alok Vaid-Menon sat down with Harris Reed, a recent Central Saint Martins graduate who has emerged as one of the industry’s brightest rising stars and is vocal about pushing gender-fluid fashion to the mainstream.

Reed and Alok spoke about concrete opportunities for industry stakeholders to de-gender fashion. While many fashion companies want to be seen working with gender non-binary people, few are baking their gender-free principles into their businesses beyond one-off collaborations.

Subscribe to BoF’s YouTube channel to never miss a video.

Look out for more VOICES videos coming soon, bringing you the best of our annual global gathering for big thinkers.

CONNECT WITH THE BUSINESS OF FASHION:

[mikepeterson]

I wish this conversation was more technical than political. I'm actually curious how people with vastly different body shapes can both wear the same pieces without sacrificing fit. Maybe these people don't have any answer.

[thozamabusakwe]

Fashion should only be about creative expression. The human body requires freedom to choose what to dorn without shops or marketers categorizing what items of clothing belong to what gender because life is a little more complex than that.

[apnadogbholu]

This is the future, girls wearing men's clothes but men's doesn't wear women clothes .
But this is changed in near future.

[normanalston]

Heard you're coming to Philadelphia I love to meet you soon

[dodoscholz]

Thank you so much for reminding me why I started to design genderless, size inclusive, biodegradable, fair trade clothing🙏🏽❤️ thank you

[Raising.hell.]

I see no problem with gender fluid clothing but this…. The height of a person and chest size…. For me I like things that fit my curves and accentuate them and I have a hard time finding things that fit my waste while fitting my chest, and for pants, I am a super short person so if it is gender fluid, how would gender fluid clothing compensate my body??? I think that is the only challenge I face personally but as for gender fluid clothing, I love it because it does think outside the box. It is not inside box thinking 💖 keep doing do regardless of opinions because those opinions don’t pay your bills 💜

[jycioxv]

4:21 and yes women’s clothes tend to be more expensive but the fits are also designed for women’s bodies. Like surely a designer knows that women’s hips are completely different on men’s hips, the shoulders, bust, neck. Like what are these guys smoking? Even the sizing conventions are different. A size 6 US vs a M for men’s? What exactly are these guys smoking?

[timrutter]

I have great respect for Harris Reed and hix work. Just want to mention at this point: Bog George, David Bowie, Uni fluid isn't new.

[fegermany]

They are lying obviously . Im 46 y.o mom, size xl, and yet my adults kids dressed fashionable according to NORMAL gender . Male or female, dont let them manipulate your kids and grandkids

[abetterwayblueprint]

If we were to return to the historical adjustable sizing model it could fit a more universal market. The technical aspect of clothing is nothing more than mass production "pret a porter" off the rack which basically fits 10% of society.... then look at the dhoti, toga, kilt, cassock and you see that the western model isn't representing humanity in any way shape or form. It's shows like this that can change the narrative and societal norms.

[Raising.hell.]

As a woman, I have always hated how the models were always a certain body type and that is how they have defined what “beauty” is which is really demeaning to the natural human.. As I grew up it gave me extreme body dysmorphia of a body I could never attain. I could never be that pretty little model…. I know many struggle with the way things are advertised and it needs to change to reflect everyone 🌈✨

[vishnus]

This is what happens when they don't have real issues to solve, they just create an issue....

[rockyraaacoon]

It’s so sad to see these weird commenters reveal themselves as transphobic and cynical in these comments and so scared of change that has nothing to do with their personal lives and goals.

[quentincrisp]

Alok is ridiculous looking! He's basically wearing a 🤡clown suit & makeup. They're trying to be provocative & cool but come across corny & cliched! Yikes!

[i.wetpaint]

Archaic software??? WTF. Archaic mindset is more like it. Anyone with rudimentary programming skills will clock that as bull.
Love this beautiful conversation with two beautiful people. I see the future of art and fashion, and it is expansive.

[Ric]

I can't! Not feeling their perspective, and it's very much a biased interview.

[MrBerta]

Bla bla bla Has he met the world? Money money money

[evemuresan]

Stop kidding yourselves, it's not going to be gender free :)

[TheJonvazgar]

i agree and disagree with this. great conversation to spark thought.

[AlexVanVuuren]

this parody is just so funny - well done to the artists!