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It’s finally Pride Month! After a year of being cooped up indoors, this is for sure going to be a Pride to remember. It’s always good to wear your gender and sexuality as loud and as proud as you want to, but it’s that time of year that large companies start mass-producing rainbow-themed goodies. Big-name corporations tend to debut Pride Collections in the early summer, and while we always support showing off your support for the community, keep an eye on where your proceeds are going (many companies donate Pride Month revenue to worthy causes, but others do not). This way, you don’t have to worry about where your money is going—you can feel confident your Pride purchases are going directly to the LGBTQ community itself.
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There are tons of queer-owned companies, both online and probably even in your own neighborhood. You can find local businesses that are a part of the LGBTQ community through the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), and if you’re a fan of online shopping and supporting LGBTQ entrepreneurs across the country, here are 20 queer-owned businesses you can support today and all year round!
1. Otherwild
Otherwild, which opened in LA in 2012 and now has a second location in NYC, was founded by Rachel Berks. Berks is a queer woman who you might remember as the one who brought back “The Future is Female” shirt, after seeing the imagery from HerStory. Berks doesn’t just sell awesome stuff. She also uses her small business to give back to the community by donating to organizations like Planned Parenthood, The National Center for Transgender Equality, The Lesbian Herstory Archives, and Black Lives Matter. Her shop sells a variety of LGBTQ-inspired apparel, accessories, housewares, media, and apothecary that range from loud and proud to silly to subtle.
2. Fluide
Fluide is a queer-owned beauty company that produces makeup for men, women, and everyone in between. Co-founders Isabella Giancarlo and Laura Kraber started this “radical, community-based beauty business” back in 2018 after wanting to see “queer beauty represented by queer people.” Fluide’s collection covers all gender expressions, identities, and skin tones so everyone can find something for them. The variety of makeup available is cruelty-free, glitter-free, and free from potentially harmful chemicals like parabens and formaldehyde, so you have one less thing to worry about.
3. Wildfang
Founded in 2013, Wildfang sells a variety of clothing, accessories, and shoes for all women ranging from casual to professional styles. Co-founded by former Nike employees Emma McIlroy and Julia Parsley, Wildfang is queer-owned and an inclusive feminist-leaning business. Some of its more well-known products are the Wild Feminist collection and the Empower Suit that comes with ACTUAL pockets and tons of flexibility. It doesn’t hurt that the company is great at giving back, too—in 2018 alone, Wildfang raised over $400k for charities that support reproductive, immigrant, and women’s and human rights.
4. Rebirth Garments
Rebirth Garments sells gender non-conforming wearables and accessories for people on the full spectrum of gender, size, and ability. Founder Sky Cubacub, a nonbinary queer and disabled Filipinx human, really understands that the trans and disabled communities, in particular, have very specific clothing needs that are rarely—if ever—properly fulfilled by mainstream clothing designers. Rebirth Garments “challenges mainstream beauty standards that are sizeist, ableist, and conform to the gender binary.” This is an incredible website for those of you who felt as though you could never find clothes that truly fit your body or identity—and they have an Etsy shop too.
5. dfrntpigeon
The dfrntpigeon fashion brand was created much differently than most other brands you shop. This company was started as a partnership between the digital design firm AKQA and Portland’s New Avenues for Youth. Their business model is simple: Design professionals mentor homeless youth, 40% of whom identify as part of the LGBTQ community. These kids are then paid to design and market a clothing line that derives from their own lives and experiences; this then helps them fuel their careers and propel them into the working world. The store sells a variety of clothing, mugs, pins, patches, journals, stickers, and more. You even have the option to donate a shirt to a youth in need. This is an incredible idea and even more miraculous that this community-run business is gaining so much success.
6. Peau De Loup
Peau De Loup sells “androgynous-style clothing designed for all bodies with curves regardless of gender identity.” Founders Adelle Renaud and Erin McLeod were just like a lot of women out there—slightly tomboy-esque and wanting to wear “men’s” clothing but soon realized it wasn’t suited to fit the curves most “women” have. So they started by designing a well-made button-down for bodies with curves. In every “Alpha” shirt, there’s a secret inner pocket on the left breast to keep your cards, cash, or phone safe when you’re out and about. Think of it as a better hiding place for your things than your bra, because that’s where the idea came from. Peau De Loup also makes it a point to use upcycled fabrics so nothing is ever wasted.
7. Flavnt
Flavnt Streetwear is an Austin-based independent clothing company that promotes self-confidence and self-love through clothes. Co-owners Courtney and Chris Rhodes don’t believe in men’s and women’s clothing—just clothes that make you feel your most confident, truest self. The sisters are both LGBTQ and say their company is “by queer people for queer people.”
8. Steer Queer
Founded in December 2013 in Pittsburgh, Steer Queer was first a quarterly queer arts and literature magazine, and now a retail shop run by Cat Conley, a genderfluid jewelry-maker who’s the genius behind this whole operation. Steer Queer’s store is jam-packed with zines, gay jewelry, vintage knickknacks, and more. I fell in love with their jewelry fast—I mean the detailing in some of the wooden rings is impeccable (ex: the Golden Girls rings)?!?! love it). The giant They/Them hoop earrings are a mood and you can pick what color you want them made in. You can really tell how much work goes into each piece, which is incredible considering how affordable each of the items is.
9. Bianca Designs
Bianca Negron is the queer Latinx designer behind Bianca Designs, a small accessory shop run out of Queens, NY. Negron has been selling inclusive pins and fun accessories since 2017 that are bound to make your gay heart smile. I personally had to stop myself from buying everything off of this small site, especially her adorable embroidered shirts.
10. Queerly Designs
Made by queers, for queers, Queerly Designs is a Philly-based Etsy store that specializes in a variety of gay pride shirts. I personally can’t get enough of quirky queer shirts, especially with puns I haven’t heard before. If you plan on going to a Pride parade, there are a bunch of options to wear for that, ranging from edgy Stonewall merch to a variety of “Vaccinated Top” and “Vaccinated Bottom” shirts to choose from—to let people know right from the start what they’re getting into. Seeing your family for the first time in over a year? Why not rock the “Gay Cousin” shirt and just get that over with? Don’t let anyone misgender you with one of these cute tops, like “Too cute for a gender identity.” There’s really something for everyone here, queer or ally alike!
11. Dapper Boi
Dapper Boi is a gender-neutral, everyday clothing line for individuals of all body types. Founders Vicky and Charisse Pasche’s goal is to make people feel comfortable and confident in their own skin. Vicky mentions on the site about how she used to shop in the men’s department and how it was not only an uncomfortable experience, but “men’s” clothing just isn’t made to fit the curves that “women’s” bodies have. Dapper Boi’s button-ups have room for curves, and even some hidden snaps on the button placket to ensure there is no chest gap—which in my opinion, is genius. They have a variety of clothing from jeans and jackets to joggers and swimwear.
12. Stuzo Clothing
Started in 2010 by Stoney Michelli and Uzo Ejikeme, Stuzo is a gender-free clothing company that is one of the few I found in my research to put an emphasis on the BIPOC queer community. As they so cleverly put it, “Our pieces are unisex, or gender-free as we prefer to call them, because clothes don’t have any organs last time we checked.” Celebrities such as Ruby Rose (Orange is the New Black), Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip), and Jada Pinkett Smith are some of the many, many people from all walks of life that wear Stuzo-brand clothing.
13. gc2b
Founded in 2015, gc2b is a trans-owned company based out of Maryland. Founder Marli Washington actually created the first binders that were designed and patented specifically for gender-affirming chest binding. So, the original chest binders were designed by trans people for trans people—how warm and fuzzy is that? They come in two different styles and 11 different colors, they’re swim-friendly, and their cotton blend inner panel provides comfortable compression. The gc2b website even has a very thorough guide on how to properly determine your size to get the best fit. And you can find more than just binders when you shop their site—they’ve expanded to sell cute pride-themed merch as well!
14. Pride Factory
Pride Factory, which opened its doors in Fort Lauderdale in 1996, is a staple of the South Florida gay scene. Queer-owned and founded by Matthew and Lori Deak, the store itself is more than 8,300 square feet of men’s swimwear, underwear, and fashion apparel, with tons of novelty items alongside and it’s all available online as well. Their variety of gym wear is quirky yet functional, and is clearly loved since they’ve been going strong for over 20 years.
15. SUAY Sew Shop
Founded in LA in 2017, SUAY Sew Shop is an ethically sourced gay-owned home goods and clothing brand. Suay products are made from a combo of “post-consumer waste, deadstock and domestically, organically grown fibers.” If you have any clothing that has a broken zipper or ripped jeans or any other flaws, you can send it in to be fixed for a small fee. Through this green production process and providing people the opportunity to repair their clothes, Suay has diverted 500,000 lbs of garment waste from landfills since 2017. All of their clothes are super unique and their home goods section has a gorgeous collection of comfy pillows. If you’re all about living sustainably and don’t mind spending a little extra for it, SUAY Sew Shop is the way to go.
16. Pumkinfish
Located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, Pumkinfish is a store of strange wonders—and it’s queer-owned too! If you’re the type of person that loves knick-knacks but also wishes they could get some use out of those weird treasures they find, this is the place for you. They have an eclectic collection of unique gifts and goodies from all over the world, ranging from bath soaps to cocktail mixers to raunchy potholders to Cat Wine (yes, it’s for your cats). You’ll surely be able to find something that tickles your fancy here—something that you didn’t even know you wanted, but once you see it, you’ll need it immediately. And you can bookmark this for later and do all your holiday shopping in one go, all while supporting an LGBTQ business.
17. A Tribe Called Queer
A Tribe Called Queer was created by Sabine Maxine Lopez, a queer femme of color from LA. This shop has tons of queer and Black pride products that are affordable, fashionable, and make a statement with phrases like “Femmes Can Be Thems” or “Women of Color Are the Backbone of America.” With shirts, pins, beanies, bucket hats, phone cases, and more, there will definitely be something here for you. For several of their products, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to organizations such as Black Lives Matter and Emergency Release Fund, an organization that works to ensure that New York City’s trans community is able to make bail when arrested so no one is forced to remain in detention before trial.
18. Bowtie Behavior
When I first came across this shop, I was like “A whole store dedicated just to bowties? Really?” But then I considered, where have queer femmes ever been able to get fashionable bowties besides men’s suit shops where you get a bunch of weird side-eyes and judgement? Founder Robin Williams had this problem in 2014 when they were in search of a bow tie for their best friend’s bridal shower and couldn’t find one that both fit their style and was affordable. So what’d they do? They learned to sew and made their own! Bowtie Behavior creates pieces that are bold and flavorful; pieces that outfits are built around. Every single bowtie is handmade with quality fabric. You can purchase them pre-tied or not, and even with a matching pocket square.
19. Carmen Liu
Designed, founded, and run by a trans woman (who was featured in Forbes’ 30 under 30), Carmen Liu Lingerie was inspired by the frustration that there were no existing products out there for trans women and nonbinary people. Selling affordable feminine underwear for people who have more stuff to fit in down there and matching bras for those who don’t necessarily have as much to fill in up top, Carmen Liu’s lingerie brand empowers trans and nonbinary people everywhere and really helps to let people feel like their true selves. There’s even a package for “Carmen Liu Kids,” designed for trans girls and non-binary children discovering themselves.
20. TomboyX
TomboyX is a queer-owned brand that makes awesome underwear, apparel, and swimwear. Owners Fran Dunaway and Naomi Gonzalez started this business like many others—to fill a need: they wanted to provide “underwear that anybody could feel comfortable in, regardless of where they fell on the size or gender spectrum.” Through their own “human agenda,” TomboyX offers a huge variety of styles, designs, fits, and sizes available, ranging from XS-4X.
This retailer was under some hot water last summer, with some reports of horrible misgendering at TomboyX photoshoots. And although its underwear is said to be for “everyone,” when asked about why its marketing photos typically exclude trans women, the company responded by saying, “All of our underwear styles are made from soft, stretchy fabrics and feature a wide gusset to accommodate all types of anatomy. That said, we do occasionally see feedback that the Bikini and Thong don’t provide enough room in the front for some customers.” These are important factors to consider as you shop for the best, most comfortable clothing for your body.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
