AP PHOTOS: Avoiding gender stereotypes in kids' clothing
Posted July 25, 2016 7:00 am
NEW YORK (AP) - The options for gender-neutral children's clothing are still limited, but growing.
Some big retailers like Lands' End and Zara are making small changes to their offerings, while some frustrated parents have launched their own companies to make the items they wanted to find. Many of the options are unisex T-shirts that have motifs like robots, trains or dinosaurs.
Those smaller companies are among nearly 20 online brands that formed a campaign called Clothes Without Limits last year that they're reprising for the back-to-school season.
More has changed for girls' clothes than for boys, but the vast majority of children's clothing is still gender-specific, says industry analyst Marshal Cohen. He doesn't expect massive change until the next generation starts having children.
"Once we get past the cultural discussion, that's when you'll see the (major) brands step out," Cohen said. "No one wants to risk the chance of rocking the boat."
In this Tuesday, July 19, 2016, photo, Eva St. Clair, left, and Rebecca Melsky pose for a portrait at Melsky's home in Washington. Melsky and St. Clair design dresses for Princess Awesome, a girls' clothing line that uses traditional boys' motifs such as trains, dinosaurs, ninjas, and planes. (AP Photo/Zach Gibson)
The Associated Press
In this Thursday, July 7, 2016, photo, Courtney Hartman shows off her basement silkscreen printer operation where she creates gender-neutral clothing, in Seattle. Hartman owns Jessy & Jack, a collection of unisex T-shirts, and Free to Be Kids, where a shirt with the slogan, âI'm a Cat Guyâ comes in blue, gray and yellow. For parents looking to dress their kids in clothing that defy gender norms, options for the back-to-school shopping season are still limited, but they're growing. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
The Associated Press
In this Friday, July 8, 2016, photo, Charlie Guerin, 3, left, shows off her colorful outfit with her brother, Danny, 1, in Portland, Ore. For parents looking to dress their kids in clothing that defy gender norms, options for the back-to-school shopping season are still limited, but they're growing. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
The Associated Press
This Tuesday, July 19, 2016, photo shows detail on a Princess Awesome dress at co-owner Rebecca Melsky's home in Washington. Melsky, and co-owner Eva St. Clair design dresses for Princess Awesome, a girls' clothing line that uses traditional boys' motifs such as trains, dinosaurs, ninjas, and planes. (AP Photo/Zach Gibson)
The Associated Press
In this Thursday, July 7, 2016, photo, Martine Zoer poses for a photo with her sons Tyler, 8, left, and Tristan, 5, as they wear and display some of the gender-neutral clothing she creates, in Mill Creek, Wash. Zoer founded Quirkie Kids two years ago that marketed unisex pink shirts online, starting the business after her sons wanted to wear pink but she couldn't find anything in the boys' section. Her collection has since expanded to other colors, and she set up two Instagram accounts @stillagirl and @stillaboy that share such images of boys clutching flowers or girls playing with a toy car. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
The Associated Press
This Tuesday, July 19, 2016, photo shows a Princess Awesome dress at co-owner Rebecca Melsky's home in Washington. Melsky, and co-owner Eva St. Clair design dresses for Princess Awesome, a girls' clothing line that uses traditional boys' motifs such as trains, dinosaurs, ninjas, and planes. (AP Photo/Zach Gibson)
The Associated Press
In this Thursday, July 7, 2016, photo, some of the gender-neutral clothing made by Courtney Hartman is displayed at her home in Seattle. Hartman owns Jessy & Jack, a collection of unisex T-shirts, and Free to Be Kids, where a shirt with the slogan, âI'm a Cat Guyâ comes in blue, gray and yellow. For parents looking to dress their kids in clothing that defy gender norms, options for the back-to-school shopping season are still limited, but they're growing. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
The Associated Press
In this Thursday, July 7, 2016, photo, Tyler Zoer, 8, left, and his brother Tristan, 5, pose for a photo as they wear some of the gender-neutral clothing created by their mother, Martine Zoer, in Mill Creek, Wash. Zoer founded Quirkie Kids two years ago that marketed unisex pink shirts online, starting the business after her sons wanted to wear pink but she couldn't find anything in the boys' section. For parents looking to dress their kids in clothing that defy gender norms, options for the back-to-school shopping season are still limited, but they're growing. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
The Associated Press
In this Friday, July 8, 2016, photo, Chris Guerin poses for a photo with his children Charlie, 3, right, and Danny in Portland, Ore. For parents looking to dress their kids in clothing that defy gender norms, options for the back-to-school shopping season are still limited, but they're growing. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
The Associated Press
This Tuesday, July 19, 2016, photo shows details from Princess Awesome dresses at co-owner Rebecca Melsky's home in Washington. Melsky, and co-owner Eva St. Clair design dresses for Princess Awesome, a girls' clothing line that uses traditional boys' motifs such as trains, dinosaurs, ninjas, and planes. (AP Photo/Zach Gibson)
The Associated Press
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