Zara launches Ungendered collection

Spanish retailer Zara has launched its first gender-neutral collection.

The high street giant has incorporated an “ungendered” category under the brand’s diffusion TRF label on its official website. The range consists of 16 basic essentials which include hoodies, jeans, joggers, shorts and t-shirts.

The clothing has a subtle colour palette featuring classic white, light -blue denim and various shades of grey. The look is relatively paired down with loose silhouettes exuding a sporty and casual vibe.

Despite being relatively low key on its new launch, Zara’s collection has acclaimed mixed reviews. The collection has been criticised for being “too plain”, arguing that the pieces are not bold enough in breaking down conventional stereotypes. One may suggest that the collection as a whole seems unbalanced, leaning more towards masculine notions.

There are no skirts, dresses or typically feminine hues such as pink. “When will we move past this notion that genderless clothing simply = plain t-shirts/sweatpants? Why is this ‘bold’?” posted actor/model/writer and agender advocate Tyler Ford on Twitter.

Perhaps the retailer could have been more daring with its designs and really pushed the boundaries of advocating the acceptance of one’s gender identity. Indeed, we should keep in mind that unisex apparel has little to do with social awareness. So conceivably, this new collection is a mere marketing tool inspired by such a widely discussed topic.

Gender fluidity is not new within fashion by all means. Designer brands have been engaging with this concept for quite some time, such as JW Anderson, Rick Owens and Louis Vuitton, to name a few. Nevertheless, for a retailer with such an international presence to launch a non-binary collection is still a step in the right direction in positively acknowledging a progression within society.

Geneve Anderson