PRIDE 2021: WHICH BRANDS ARE CELEBRATING
DENIZ AKKAYA
Brands releasing Pride collections is not just about a collection of LGBTQ celebration, but a social commitment to LGBTQ youth.
Pride month is here! As such, brands started to introduce their Pride collections one by one. Pride collections of brands are of great importance in terms of their social standing, but as a consumer, beware of queerbating. Make sure that brands not only profit off of the Pride month but also give back to the LGBTQ community however they can.
Here’s our favorite Pride Collections:
Balenciaga
In this collection, shirts come in two styles: varsity-style lettering that spells out “GAY PRIDE BALENCIAGA 2021” and emblazoned word GAY with a rainbow flag. Each style announces pride in a simple yet straightforward way. While some styles highlight the rainbow flag. The colorful rainbow is around the waist of men and women’s underwear, silently speaking for the LGBTQ pride and honor
Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein revealed its 2021 Pride Collection of clothing and accessories, and let’s just say we’re ready to ride this rainbow. The extensive collection includes just about everything you might need for Pride, including bikinis and jockstraps, but also slides, bags, shirts, shorts, and hoodies to name a few. The jockstrap got introduced to the brand in 2019 for the Pride pack.
UGG
The Ugg Pride collection features a capsule of bright and colorful (and fluffy) rainbow-hued shoes that, simply put, one cannot ignore. There are also sweatshirts and tops featuring similar rainbow designs to help you complete your look. And to give back, Ugg will donate $25 for every pair of its Disco Stripes slides sold to GLAAD, with a maximum of $125,000.
Converse
Converse has released its latest collection in honor of the LGBTQIA+ community. For the brand’s sixth annual Pride range, the line explores the journey to self-love. Leading the collection are the Chuck 70, Chuck Taylor All Star – Hi, Low and Platform – and Run Star Hike sneakers, as well as the rainbow slides. Through the footwear label’s Converse By You program, customers can customize their silhouettes with pieces like an “All Star” patch, a license plate and different laces, all inspired by pride, bisexual, pansexual, lesbian, non-binary, transgender and unity flags. In addition, part of the proceeds from Converse’s ongoing partnership with the It Gets Better Project will go to the nonprofit organization to encourage individuals to express their creativity on TikTok and Twitch during Pride Month and beyond.
Dr. Martens
Dr. Martens has partnered with The Trevor Project for the fifth time and will be donating $100,000 to the organization, which is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Adidas
The sports brand has released a range of apparel and footwear featuring graphics inspired by the LGBT+ community. It features style and performance wear, all inspired by a ‘Do It Yourself’ visual aesthetic, which Adidas says “is born from LGBT+ communities who had sought to create their own spaces for self-expression.” Customers can also get a colourful line-up of apparel from bucket hats and caps to running track tops and jumpsuits – not to mention sports bras and shorts. However, the brand does not donate any proceedings to LGBTQ+ organizations.
