ONES TO WATCH: EQUIPMENT

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If your store carries women’s, you may have already heard of Equipment. The fashion brand is nearly 45 years old with origins truly rooted in androgyny. But now, the brand is leaning even more in its androgynous roots to develop its first unisex collection for 2020.

“We wanted to explore the concept of a non-binary collection considering the brand had an extraordinary head start with a similar conversation but in a different era,” says James R. Miller, CEO of The Collected Group, the parent company of Equipment as well as denim brand Current Elliott and luxury women’s brand Joie. “My team and I are passionate about making a difference in our industry and for an audience that needs to continue to have a voice in a larger way.”

To make sure this launch went without a hitch, Equipment partnered with New York City-based gender-fluid retailer The Phluid Project. “We’ve partnered with this remarkable organization to make sure that every representation of this collection speaks with purpose,” Miller says. “The fluid fabrications, the campaigns and the people we collaborate with will hopefully make an impact in a positive way.”

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As of right now, the brand is focusing on its best-sellers for the unisex collection, it’s signature shirts (cottons retail for $275 and silks retail for $395). Miller expects to add more items to the collection later in the year. “We’ll see how the reaction goes for spring, but for fall we’ve really grown the categories and fabrications that are fun and playful,” he tells MR. “One-pieces, blazers, tunics are all imagined in unusual but beautiful forms.”

Along with The Phluid Project in New York, Mr Porter, La Rinascente, and Beymen have also signed on to carry the new collection. Miller says more are expected to be added, “especially those retailers who are keen to explore and have a part to play in the gender-fluid conversation.”