Reclaim, Remix, Resist: How Queer Designers Are Transforming Fashion in 2025

Fashion has long been a battleground and a canvas for queer expression, but in 2025, a new wave of LGBTQ+ designers is pushing the conversation beyond sequins and rainbow motifs. The latest Pride Month collections aren’t just about visibility—they’re about authenticity, sustainability, and rewriting the rules of who gets to define style. At the heart of this movement is MI Leggett, the force behind Official Rebrand, whose upcycled, gender-neutral pieces have made Leggett one of the most talked-about queer designers of the year.

MI Leggett and Official Rebrand: Upcycling as Queer Resistance

Leggett’s Official Rebrand doesn’t just make clothes; it tells stories. Each garment is sourced from discarded or second-hand materials, then transformed by hand into one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect the wearer’s identity rather than the limitations of the gender binary. This commitment to sustainability is deeply intertwined with the brand’s ethos of queerness: in Leggett’s own words, “to rebrand is to reject the old labels and embrace the infinite possibilities of self-expression”.

Leggett’s designs have become a staple at New York Pride events, worn by a diverse cross-section of the LGBTQ+ community. The brand’s genderless silhouettes, painted slogans, and patchwork aesthetics speak to a generation eager to challenge not just fashion norms but also the environmental impact of fast fashion. This year, Official Rebrand’s collaboration with local queer artists to produce limited-edition pieces further cemented its status as a leader in the movement toward ethical, identity-driven fashion.

A Vibrant Tapestry: Subcultures and Street Style at Pride

The influence of designers like Leggett is visible far beyond boutique racks. On the streets of Brooklyn and the floats of the NYC Pride March, queer fashion in 2025 is a riot of creativity: platform boots paired with mesh tops and leather harnesses, pastel-dyed buzzcuts under bucket hats, and body chains layered over vintage tees. These looks are more than mere aesthetics—they’re statements of survival and joy, signaling resistance to mainstream expectations while celebrating communal bonds.

Other queer-owned brands, such as Berriez and Phlemuns, are remixing nostalgia, streetwear, and radical body inclusivity into collections that defy simple categorization. Their designs blur the line between high fashion and everyday wear, making self-expression accessible to all members of the LGBTQ+ community, regardless of size or gender identity.

Wider Impact: Community, Activism, and the Business of Queer Fashion

The impact of these designers is not limited to aesthetics. Conner Ives, for example, raised over $70,000 for Trans Lifeline through the “Protect The Dolls” campaign, proving that fashion can be a powerful vehicle for direct action and support within the community. Meanwhile, brands like Eckhaus Latta, led by Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta, are gaining global recognition for their inclusive casting and gender-neutral collections, challenging the industry from within and proving that queer values can drive both creativity and commercial success.

The ripple effect is clear: LGBTQ+ designers are not only shifting fashion’s visual language but also its business ethics, community priorities, and global relevance. Their work is a testament to the enduring power of queer creativity to inspire, disrupt, and build a more inclusive future.