Both & Apparel is Easing Dysphoria for Transmasculine Teens
Many trans and gender nonconforming youth are losing access to healthcare across the US, making gender affirming fashion more important than ever.
Both &, the fastest growing brand serving the transmasculine, non binary and gender queer communities, is creating clothing that can ease dysphoria for youth ages 13-18.
Founded by Finnegan Shepard, the company has perfected a new fit system for AFAB people who want a masculine silhouette.
“We started with t-shirts, but then the community kept requesting more–more sizes, more styles, more categories. We added on pants, swimwear, denim and hoodies and sweaters and outerwear. And throughout all this, I kept getting emails from parents and aunts and uncles who were trying to find clothing for the youth in their life, imploring me to make a collection for 13-18 year olds,” Finnegan says.
Finnegan Youth, $44, Starter tee great for all stages of transition
Finnegan held focus groups and fittings in NYC with transmasc youth to figure out what styles they would most appreciate and what needed to be done to shift the fit pattern. “It was amazing to realize how close we actually are, with our initial designs,” he said. “We needed to add on smaller sizing, but the base fit is pretty darn spot on.”
After six months of work, Both& launched a youth collection as a first test capsule. It includes a pair of denim jeans, a T-shirt, a long sleeve shirt, and a hoody. “It can give some relief and gender joy to folks who are navigating often what is often the most dysphoric age ranges,” Finnegan says.
Finnegan Youth, $44 Starter tee great for all stages of transition
Elmo youth, $88 A comfy hoody for AFAb folks
“Right now there is so much hate and misinformation flying around about trans youth, and we want to provide a safe space away from all that noise, a space that fundamentally believes in the dignity of these youth and their right to explore their gender identity and feel comfortable in their bodies as they do so. If we can be even a small part of easing the pain in that process, we will have succeeded,” Finnegan says.
Finnegan Shepard started Both& out of his parent’s Colorado basement in 2020 with $5k in savings and no background or contacts in the business of fashion. The brand has since exploded globally, winning dozens of awards and attracting A list talent, most recently including Bella Ramsey.
The collection is available through Both &’s website, in limited stock.
