Pride Month 2021 fashion: Coach, Versace, Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren and 6 more luxury brands releasing rainbow pieces and donating to LGBT charities

Jun 16 , 2021

Ralph Lauren’s Pride collection. Photo: Ralph Lauren

Records of LGBTQ+ people have existed from as early as 2400 BCE; according to a New York Times article, some believed that Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum of Ancient Egypt were the first-ever recorded same-sex couple in human history.

So what’s Pride month all about? On June 28, 1969, police officers raided Stonewall Inn, a gay club in New York City, prompting club patrons and other members of the LGBTQ+ community to fight back. The incident sparked the gay rights movement in the United States, and the concept of Pride spread across the globe.

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Waving a rainbow flag or donning apparel or accessories featuring the iconic Pride symbol is customary and, as LGBTQ+ visibility rises, brands show solidarity by releasing Pride-themed collections in June – although not all countries celebrate Pride at the same time. Not only do these Pride-themed pieces add colour and joy to our wardrobes, they also signify the progression in spreading love and acceptance.

From bright and bold rainbow-hued pieces to subtler designs, here are some of the Pride-themed fashion collections to look out for this year.

Versace

Versace x Born This Way Foundation black beret hat. Photo: Versace

A collaboration between Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation and Versace to promote equality, diversity and inclusion, the Pride Month collection features an array of fashionable pieces that’ll let you support the movement in style. A portion of sales will be donated to Gaga’s charitable foundation in support of LGBTQ+ communities.

Balenciaga

Rather than opting for the traditional rainbow colours, Balenciaga launched a hoodie that only comes in pink, black and dark blue with the text “gay” and “pride” emblazoned in the centre. To further support LGBTQ+ communities, Balenciaga has also partnered up with the Trevor Project, a non-profit organisation devoted to preventing suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth.

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Coach

Coach gave its signature monogram a colourful twist for Pride Month, but that’s not all – the straps are in rainbow hues too. This year, the luxury brand is donating to four different LGBTQ+ charities: Hetrick-Martin Institute, Albert Kennedy Trust, Point Foundation and CenterLink Community.

J. Crew

With text stating “love first” repeated in 11 different colours down the chest, the message of this J. Crew T-shirt is clear and simple. Half the sales proceeds from this piece will be going to the PFLAG charity.

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Kate Spade New York

Aside from a roomy tote, Kate Spade New York has also launched rainbow masks that not only represent optimism, joy and self-expression – they’ll also help you stay safe during the pandemic. The brand is donating 20 per cent of profits from sales of this collection to the Trevor Project.

Ugg

Who can say no to these cheer-inducing flatforms? This pair from Ugg’s Pride collection is made from sheepskin and the Uggplush wool blend. For every pair sold on its website, the brand will be donating US$25 to GLAAD, a media monitoring organisation rallies against defamatory coverage of LGBTQ+ people.

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Savage x Fenty

You can also support Pride Month in the most intimate guises, as Savage x Fenty has released a collection of innerwear for all genders. This unlined demi bra features a sheer mesh fabric with rainbows and the text “Pride” embroidered across it, and it’s the perfect combination of sexy and fun. The lingerie label is also making a flat donation of US$250,000 from the sales of the capsule line to five different organisations supporting LGBTQ+ communities: Clara Lionel Foundation, The Audrey Lorde Project, The Caribbean Equality Project, INC, GLAAD and the Trans Latino@Coalition and Trans Wellness Center.

Ralph Lauren

Another staple that can be worn to show support all year round is this unisex T-shirt from Ralph Lauren that features a rainbow pony motif with the word “together” printed on the front. The American fashion house will be donating to the Stonewall Community Foundation to aid its international network of LGBTQ+ organisations.

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Michael Kors

For Pride Month, Michael Kors is donating all of the proceeds from its Pride T-shirts to OutRight Action International, an organisation devoted to improving the lives of people who are discriminated against or abused on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

Dr. Martens

To support Pride month, Dr. Martens has given its iconic 1461 smooth leather Oxford Shoes a rainbow take by adding a rainbow flag, stitching, laces, and a heel loop. Beyond the products, the footwear brand has also partnered up with The Trevor Project to aid in suicide prevention across all LGBTQ+ communities across the world.

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Teva

Here’s another colourful statement piece to add to your wardrobe. To support the LGBTQ+ community, Teva is contributing US$35,000 to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, an organisation dedicated to empowering and giving a platform to the LGBTQ+ community.

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This article originally appeared on Buro 247

Fashion

Versace is collaborating with Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation to promote diversity and equality with a black beret and other pieces
Taking place in June every year to commemorate the Stonewall Riots in New York City in 1969, Pride Month sees an outpouring of self-expression and support