New Labels

Children’s clothing is mostly binary and mutually exclusive. Strong or cute? Fairy wings or jet pack? ‘New Labels’ offers clothing for young kids with adaptable velcro add-ons that give them the freedom to pick and choose how they associate from day to day, allowing for change. Most children categorise their own gender by age three, why can’t they play with their gender expression as they develop? Using stereotypical symbols and labels from current children’s wear, Clodagh Read wants kids to be able to explore pre-existing ideas of gender in a fluid and playful way. Less rigidity in early life can benefit mental health and help children feel comfortable as themselves. Why not car and necklace? Or ‘roar’ today, ‘pretty’ tomorrow?

*Only online, not on display at show*