Can underwear design make this a more gender equal world? Yes, think a Mumbai copywriter and Tirupur manufacturer
The unisex underwear has elastic in certain zones, so that whatever your anatomy, the underwear will adapt to your shape
After using T-shirts as carriers of social messaging, Mumbai-based non-profit Mixx has gone deeper. This time, the platform founded by copywriter Ruchika Parab is looking at innerwear to support gender equality and sexual fluidity. Parab says that she was looking for a different form after tees, “something that works with consent, and also flips the script.”
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She decided to collaborate with Tailor and Circus, a Tamil Nadu headquartered brand known for its unisex, gender neutral underwear. “We wanted something that’s comfortable for everyone, anatomy wise. It’s not perfect yet. For instance, we don’t have a style for someone who may be undergoing gender reconstruction and is in the transition phase. But we are working on it, ” says Parab, who is backing the design initiative with the launch of a zine that will feature the experiences of 15 writers, adding to the consent conversation.
Shivangi (@disabledspice), who tried out the disability underwear, says that she appreciated the fact that there were no buttons and hooks or tags. This made the process of putting on easier, and it didn’t irritate the skin
Tirupur-based Tailor and Circus, which launched in 2018, has been at the forefront of the inclusive underwear industry, no matter what size and shape you are. Their ad campaigns feature models across sizes, shape and colour. “Unisex underwear differs in the way it’s designed. There is elastic in certain zones, so that whatever your anatomy, the underwear will adapt to your shape. It’s unisex with a message, and the message is consent,” says Abishek Elango, co-founder, while his partner Vasanth Sampath adds, “It’s the right length for both men and women. The inseams are a little longer, compared to boxers, so that adds to the aesthetics. In women’s underwear, you have a dual layer at the bottom, and for men, it’s in the front. Ours has a single layer both ways. The shape is also not too boxy.” The fabric used by the brand is a lenzing micromodal fabric from Austria, a natural eco-fibre made from beechwood pulp, which uses less water and zero pesticides. The current fabric industry features cotton predominantly—a crop that’s high on pesticide use and water. The micromodal fabric is organic and cellulosic, which also means it holds a distinct advantage over cotton.
Their next project is disabled-friendly underwear. It bears in mind that its users may be using wheelchairs for long hours. It has an anti-bacterial wash that keeps it fresh for longer, reducing bacteria and fungal growth, says Sampath. “There is also an extra layer of fabric at the inseams, so that it doesn’t ride up or needs to be adjusted repeatedly. It’s good for people in desk jobs as well. It provides comfort when you can’t keep making adjustments in the restroom,” Elango explains.
One of their clients, Shivangi (@disabledspice), who tried out the disability underwear, says that she appreciated the fact that there were no buttons and hooks or tags. This made the process of putting on easier, and it didn’t irritate the skin.
The artist from Delhi wrote in an Instagram post, “The whole experience of wearing these garments was that it was so comfortable, from the waistband not leaving any rashes or marks, to the fact that the design is inclusive to even an alien body type like mine.”
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