Fashion has long been framed within rigid binaries, yet historically, garments weren’t always gendered. Ancient civilizations featured clothing that prioritized function and symbolism over gender. Men once dominated makeup, heels, and lace; today, a growing number of consumers are pushing back against the artificial divide. Clothing, after all, is just fabric until society assigns meaning. Now, a new generation is reclaiming that neutrality, challenging norms in both high fashion and streetwear.
In truth, the gendering of clothing is a relatively modern construct tied more to marketing than necessity. The rise of mass manufacturing in the 20th century brought with it the binary sizing systems and retail categorization we now take for granted — systems that often ignore the lived realities of many bodies and identities. By contrast, today’s consumers are asking different questions: not just “What size am I?” but “Why should size or gender limit what I wear?”
Fashion is a tool for identity expression, not reinforcement. Genderless design empowers wearers to explore, combine, or even reject aesthetics on their own terms — not just fitting into clothes, but making clothes fit them.
In many global cultures, garments defy Western conventions. Consider the sarong in Southeast Asia, the djellaba in North Africa, or the kimono in Japan — all traditionally worn by people of multiple genders. As cultural boundaries blur, so too does our understanding of who clothing is made for.
Cultural Nuance and Global Marketability
Deepwear’s local teams in Thailand, India, Vietnam, and China bring valuable cultural intelligence to the design and production table. In markets where gender fluidity intersects with traditional or ceremonial wear such as the adoption of brightly colored textiles or looser silhouettes, we help brands translate global concepts into culturally resonant, locally sensitive products.
This matters not just for ethics, but for market traction. A gender-neutral line made in Bangkok may need different fabrication considerations or fit grading than one targeted for the USA, Amsterdam, or Melbourne. Our teams bridge those nuances, ensuring consistency in concept but relevance in context.
Genderless fashion is more than a trend; it’s a response to evolving values and shifting consumer expectations. According to a 2024 McKinsey report, over 56% of Gen Z shoppers prefer brands that offer gender-neutral options. Newer projections suggest that the market is expanding even faster: Business Research Insights estimates the global unisex clothing market will grow from USD 11.73 billion in 2024 to USD 61.96 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 22.9% — signaling explosive potential over the next decade.
This acceleration aligns with broader calls for personal expression, inclusivity, and sustainability. Major retailers are responding. Zara launched its Ungendered line, while ASOS and H&M have released dedicated gender-fluid capsules. Even traditional department stores are rethinking store layouts, moving away from binary men’s and women’s sections in favor of aesthetic- or function-based groupings that speak to individual identity rather than traditional gender categories.
As societal norms shift and younger consumers drive market influence, unisex fashion isn’t just a movement — it’s a business strategy, and one that’s increasingly difficult to ignore.
The Business Case for Genderless Fashion
Beyond aligning with progressive values, gender-fluid fashion is proving to be economically strategic. In 2024, unisex fashion reached an estimated $3.2 billion globally, showing consistent year-on-year growth driven primarily by Gen Z and millennial consumers. Brands like Telfar, Eckhaus Latta, and The Phluid Project are thriving by making inclusive design their default rather than a niche.
Legacy brands are taking note. Levi’s, Nike, and Gucci have launched fluid collections that emphasize universal fits and crossover appeal. For emerging and growing labels, this marks an opportunity to align with cultural shifts while building long-term relevance and resilience.
Why brands are investing in genderless design:
- Market demand is rising: Younger consumers prefer authenticity and inclusivity, and genderless fashion delivers on both.
- Product versatility boosts ROI: One style can cater to a broader audience, reducing SKU overload.
- Brand loyalty deepens: Inclusive collections foster stronger emotional ties with consumers.
- Retail flexibility: Collections can be merchandised by function, aesthetic, or season—rather than gender—enabling innovative in-store and digital experiences.
- Future-proofing: Gender norms are evolving, and early adopters of fluid fashion are positioning themselves ahead of the curve.
Designing for Fit, Freedom, and Form
Today’s designers are moving beyond the rigid bust-waist-hip ratios of traditional sizing, creating clothing that adapts across a variety of bodies and expressions. Features like oversized silhouettes, wrap closures, convertible designs, and adjustable tailoring make these garments work for more people, more of the time.
Key design strategies include:
- Modular construction: Hidden buttons, dual-direction zippers, and adjustable hems allow wearers to customize fit and style.
- Inclusive grading systems: Brands are shifting away from the S-M-L model, using body scans and regional measurement databases to reflect real-world diversity.
- Stretch fabrics and dropped seams: These elements promote comfort and mobility, ensuring the garment moves with the wearer.
- AI-driven fit tech: Virtual try-ons and data-backed sizing help designers make fewer assumptions and more accurate garments from the start.
At Deepwear, we embed these principles into every step of production. Whether you’re sampling five pieces or scaling a full collection, we work with factories that prioritize functional inclusivity. The outcome? Clothes that look right, feel right, and move right — no matter who’s wearing them.
Sourcing Without Borders
With offices strategically located in India, Thailand, Vietnam, and China, Deepwear delivers brands an unparalleled advantage: boots-on-the-ground access to Asia’s most dynamic and fast-evolving manufacturing ecosystems.
We also maintain offices across key regions in Europe and North Africa, including Turkey, Portugal, Morocco, Spain and Italy. These locations give us valuable proximity to regional markets and allow us to support clients with on-the-ground insight and localized service.
From Asia to the Mediterranean, each location offers distinct strengths.Vietnam, for example is now one now one of the world’s top textile exporters, recorded over $44.5 billion in garment and textile exports in 2023, according to Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) reports. With free trade agreements like the EVFTA and CPTPP driving exports and technological upgrades, the country is not just competitive, it is future-ready.
Meanwhile, India’s textile sector continues to thrive, backed by government incentives like the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, which aims to boost high-value manufacturing. With deep artisanal traditions and expanding industrial capacity, India is an ideal choice for both volume and craftsmanship.
Thailand and China remain global stalwarts, especially for brands seeking scalable production with strong logistics infrastructure. Thailand’s growing emphasis on eco-certifications and compliance, along with China’s technical superiority, make both regions critical in building resilient, diversified supply chains.
These sourcing destinations aren’t just cost-effective they are advancing in sustainable production, ethical labor standards, and compliance transparency, key concerns for the conscious consumer and investor alike.
For brands launching genderless or fluid fashion lines, Deepwear acts as both partner and protector — overseeing your entire product lifecycle from concept to container. We don’t just coordinate; we ensure your vision is built with accountable sourcing, clear timelines, and trusted manufacturer relationships. Think of us as your brand’s bodyguard that guards quality, ethics, and margins.
More Than a Trend — A Core Offering
Genderless fashion isn’t confined to monochrome tees and boxy fits. It’s a design philosophy — an invitation to redefine clothing beyond binary norms. These garments offer remarkable utility: layerable, adaptable, seasonless, and inclusive by nature.
They can serve as foundational pieces like unstructured blazers, oversized button-downs, or tailored trousers built to flex between roles, climates, and styling needs. But they can just as easily be statement pieces: vibrant prints, architectural silhouettes, or experimental cuts that reject convention and invite creative expression.
At Deepwear, we specialize in making both. Whether your brand wants to build an everyday essentials line or push the envelope with a boundary-breaking capsule, our global team — from our design consultants to our project managers — will work with you to turn genderless garments into cultural artifacts that resonate, sell, and endure.
Ready to expand into a gender-fluid collection? Schedule a consultation with us today.