British Retailer Selfridges To Debut 'Gender Neutral' Fashion Line

Although one could argue jeans and white T-shirts have been the ultimate gender neutral uniform for decades, from March 12 until the end of April, British fashion retailer Selfridges will highlight gender neutrality in fashion with the launch of the Agender project, Women’s Wear Daily reported.

It is described as a “a fashion exploration of the masculine, the feminine and the interplay … found in between” that will “take … customers on a journey where they can choose to shop and dress without limitations or stereotypes.” The Agender collection will be at Selfridges' Manchester and Birmingham, England, stores as well as on its website.

The designers whose gender-neutral fashions will be featured at Selfridge’s will include Belgian avant garde designer Ann Demeulemeester, English designer Gareth Pugh and the U.K. launch of Nicopanda, a collection from one of Lady Gaga’s favorites, designer Nicola Formichetti.

Music, photography and film with gendered themes will be featured alongside the fashions in-store and on the website, and mannequins will not have recognizably female or male features.

Creative director Linda Hewson told WWD Selfridges is “responding to a cultural shift that is happening right now” and will “allow our shoppers to approach the experience without preconceptions.” In a world that is already blurring gender lines by featuring cosmetics modeled by drag queens (RuPaul for MAC) and sending transgender models down the runway, the Agender project could be described not as “fashion forward” but rather, of the moment.