Within the colours and festivities of Pride come a variety of collections from different brands, full of rainbows, flags and messages ranging from empowering to absurdly cheesy. Browsing online, it can be hard to know when Pride collections mean a company will donate to help members of the community, and when it just means money in a corporation’s pocket.
To make life easier, GCN has rounded up a few different Pride collections and products which support charities and non-profits benefiting the LGBTQ+ community.
Clothes:
Sheep Inc X The Knit Edit
The product: This collaboration consists of four options of beautiful, bright, summer knit tops. The jumpers are made completely from Merino wool, and are so sustainable, they’re actually carbon NEGATIVE. The collection is described as “inspired by the joy and excitement of the ’80s club and art scene, while also taking a moment to remember the social justice legacy these artists left behind.”
The proceeds: Sheep Inc and The Knit Edit will donate all the profits from their Pride collection to the UK based charity Mermaids, which supports trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse kids and their families.
GCN
The product: Just in time for Pride, GCN’s merch is back and better than ever! Shirts featuring designs made in collaboration with amazing queer artist Brian Teeling are available, and our in-house line has been restocked with all of your classic GCN favorites. Plus, feel good about buying our gear – it’s vegan, organic and cruelty-free.
The proceeds: The profits from our collaboration with Teeling go exclusively to him and GCN, and 100% of what we make from the in-house collection comes right back and funds the magazine. As a registered charity, merchandise sales are a huge part of what keeps our presses running and our staff churning out the news you love.
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Human Collective
The product: Human Collective has come out with two lovely minimalist T-shirts for Pride, featuring the brand’s trademark ‘equal’ sign in demonstration of its commitment to equality and inclusion. The comfortable shirts are made entirely of organic cotton and are certified vegan.
The proceeds: Year round, Human Collective donates €3 of every jumper sold to three charities – Sports Against Racism Ireland, The Irish Youth Foundation and LGBT Ireland. The euro from each jumper sold by Human Collective pays for 50 minutes of the National LGBT Helpline provided by LGBT Ireland.
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Made With Love
The product: Made With Love is the clothing brand from Tom Daley, the British Olympic swimmer of viral fame thanks to knitting at the Tokyo Olympics. Daley has a Pride Collection consisting of a variety of tops including jumpers, hoodies, T-shirts and tank tops, all with one of two rainbow ‘love’ designs.
The proceeds: 100% the proceeds from this collection go to Rainbow Railroad, an organisation that helps LGBTQ+ people around the world escape violence and oppression from their governments.
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New Look
The product: New Look has a Pride collection of T-shirts in a variety of different fun and creative designs, all inspired by the progress Pride flag.
The proceeds: New Look will donate all of the profits from sales of this Pride collection to the LGBT Foundation, an organisation supporting the various needs of LGBTQ+ people. The Foundation states, “We support LGBT people to increase their skills, knowledge and self-confidence to improve and maintain their health and wellbeing. We also work in partnership with others to build strong, cohesive and influential LGBT communities.”
Bluebella
The product: The lingerie brand has released a stunning collection of lingerie in honour of Pride, with bright colours spanning the rainbow. To show the collection off, Bluebella held a photoshoot featuring former Drag Race stars Brooke Lynn Hytes and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo.
The proceeds: Bluebella will donate 10% of the Pride collection’s sales to OutRight Action International. OutRight engages in advocacy, movement resourcing, and research on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, in an effort “to create legal and social transformation.”
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Hollister and Gilly Hicks
The product: Hollister is honoring Pride with a collection designed in tandem with student activists from the organisation GLSEN. The collection has something for everyone, with items ranging from simple shorts with just a touch of rainbow on the pockets to a tie-dye bikini.
The proceeds: Rather than a percentage of sales, Hollister is making one big donation of $250,000 to GLSEN. The organisation works to make schools safe and inclusive for LGBTQ+ youth by conducting research, creating resources for educators, and advocating regarding policy.
Savage X Fenty
The product: It’s true – the iconic Rihanna lingerie line has a Pride collection! Savage X Pride is full of pieces for all genders, ranging from bras to boxers to bodysuits, and featuring all the colours of the rainbow.
The proceeds: Savage is donating $100,000 to GLAAD, which works through the media to “share stories from the LGBTQ community that accelerate acceptance.” In addition, Savage will give $100,000 along with the Clara Lionel Foundation to For the Gworls. For The Gworls hosts parties in order to raise money to help Black Transgender people pay for their needs, such as rent, gender-affirming surgeries, and more.
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Other goodies:
Adonis Flower Designers / Lollipop Apparel
The product: These two small, Queer-owned Dublin businesses both have special items this Pride. Adonis Flower Designers is currently offering a beautiful Pride bouquet bursting with colour. Also on the Adonis website, you can buy ‘Pants for Pride’ – either boxers or briefs from Lollipop Apparel, in their signature tie-dye and in bright Pride colours.
The proceeds: 20% of the sale price of both the Pride bouquet and the ‘Pants for Pride’ will go to BeLonG To, to support LGBTQ+ youth services in Ireland.
LGBT Ireland postcards
The product: This four-part postcard collection centres around the theme of courage in the LGBTQ+ community. Queer artists Aine Macken, Amy Lauren and Viktor Horvath created the images featured on the postcards, which are available at LGBTQ+ spaces throughout Dublin. The artists considered the concepts of “being yourself,” “reaching out for help” and “courage to walk with pride every day” as they created their pieces.
The proceeds: Each postcard features a QR code on its reverse, through which one can donate to LGBT Ireland. Such donations allow the organisation to continue its work in advocacy, training and support, all of which factors in to the greater goal of improving life for the LGBTQ+ community in Ireland.
UGG
The product: UGG’s Pride collection consists of a variety of different slide options and a few pieces of clothing, all of which feature the colours of different Pride flags and are gender-neutral.
The proceeds: UGG will donate $50,000 to Switchboard, a confidential helpline for the LGBTQ+ community based in the UK.
Fossil
The product: Fossil has a full Pride collection, which includes watches, bracelets, wallets and watch straps (including ones for Apple watches), which all feature the colours of the Pride flag or the Transgender flag.
The proceeds: Fossil will donate 100% of proceeds from June purchases of their Pride collection to The Trevor Project, an organisation with the mission to end the suicides of LGBTQ+ youth. The Trevor Project works towards this goal through the provision of advocacy, crisis support, public education and a safe space for queer youth, as well as conducting research.
Morphe
The product: Morphe’s ‘Made With Pride’ makeup collection includes one matte eyeshadow palette, one shimmery eyeshadow palette, face/body gems, and eye brushes in a bag with a fun rainbow strap. The progress Pride flag inspired the colours of the eyeshadow shades, which are all named after different Pride cultural icons. Morphe calls the collection “a colourful reminder to express yourself through makeup and always be proud of who you are.”
The proceeds: Morphe will donate all net proceeds of the ‘Made With Pride’ collection to The Trevor Project, which focuses on the mental health of young LGBTQ+ people.
Freedom Moses
The product: To celebrate Pride, Freedom Moses has come out with a new pair of their awesome vegan and cruelty-free slides, covered in the phrase LOVE RULES.
The proceeds: 20% of the LOVE RULES slides’ proceeds will go to the It Gets Better Project, which aims to “uplift, empower, and connect” young members of the LGBTQ+ community around the world.
Keratasse
The product: Keratasse has released a limited edition of their beloved product, Elixir Ultime L’Huile Originale, just for Pride. This hair serum performs multiple helpful hair tasks all at once, and is meant for all hair types
The proceeds: Keratasse will donate all the profits made from the Pride edition of the Elixir to the Albert Kennedy Trust. AKT supports those young members of the LGBTQ+ community in the UK experiencing homelessness or hostile living situations.
Plus, donations from Wowburger, Wagamama and Dollard Market!
The three food purveyors will match donations to BeLonG To Youth Services up to 10,000 euros, through this fundraiser.
BeLonG To supports young LGBTQ+ people in Ireland, in order to develop a worldwide environment where queer youth are “equal, safe, and valued in the diversity of their identities and experiences.”
© 2022 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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