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There's no wrong way to celebrate Pride, whether you're into parades or like to honor your queer ancestors at home. That's a sentiment the world's biggest consumer brands have taken to heart, too, with results in the form of pride merchandise that ranges from the stylish and thoughtful to the cringe-inducingly bad.
There’s no doubt that Pride collections have gotten more popular over the years; in 2021 alone, the fashion trends search engine Lyst saw a 158% increase in year-over-year searches for Pride merchandise. Unfortunately, that explosion in Pride-themed hats, jackets, and shoes has also birthed cringey graphic t-shirts and rainbow blazers that are unwearable even during the month of June.
But not all Pride merchandise is bad. In fact, a lot of it is adorable, from Ugg’s Fluff Ya slides to Kate Spade’s 2022 Pride collection, both of which include donations to LGBTQ+ suicide prevention organization the Trevor Project. In addition to being just plain ugly, the cringiest Pride collections are often out of touch with queer and trans people, and ultimately are pinkwashed, or profit off queerness without giving back to the community in a meaningful way. Below, we've selected a list of cringe-free Pride merch to choose from. Whether it’s cute clothes or functional cookware, here’s a list of non-cringeworthy pride collections that you can access year-round to sate your Pride fix!
1461 For Pride Smooth Leather Oxford Shoes by Dr. Martens
Dr. Martens’ 2022 Pride shoe is a simple and elegant pair that cleanly displays the colors of the Progress Pride flag on a white leather background. The low key incorporation of the Pride flag makes these shoes easy to pair with outfits year-round, because they’ll match with many colors and outfits, rather than clashing like many rainbow-covered items.
Dr. Martens also partners with the Trevor Project to combat LGBTQ+ youth suicide, with a contribution of $200,000 this year alone. Along with the donation, the company shone a light on queer nightlife and the importance of protest during Pride by amplifying the voices of Kia, Mother of the House of LaBaija, Le Soulja, artist and Father of the House of Soulja, Lady Phyll, founder of London Black Pride, and Lucia Blayke, Founder of London Trans+ Pride on its site.
The 2022 Levi's Pride Liberation Trucker Jacket
Levi’s produced a fun and funky 2022 Pride collection to add to your wardrobe, with a range of items and styles to suit anyone, from Pride-themed berets and hats to sunglasses and socks. My personal favorites are the collection’s white sweat shorts with “Equality Never Goes Out of Style” scrawled on the leg, though the they/them-centered apparel is a close second. The Pride Liberation Trucker Jacket is this year’s centerpiece; it captures the essence of Pride with the message “Let us love” embroidered on the back in rainbow. It makes for a wearable piece you can layer on outfits 12 months out of the year, even when the sun stops shining.
Ulyssa Slide by Coach
Everyone needs a house shoe or summer flip flop, so why not pick one up with a little LGBTQ+ flair? Coach carries a Ulyssa Slide that comes in a clear, rainbow-colored plastic. It’s a fun item to pair with any bright swimsuit in the summer or pajama set in the fall and winter. Coach’s Pride collection has one of the widest ranges of choices in this list as well, with everything from slides and sneakers to bags and watches, typically featuring the signature Coach logo design in a rainbow theme.
All Day Rainbow Hearts Large Tote by Kate Spade
In many cases, products that incorporate a rainbow theme in pride merch can seem like they’re trying too hard. Sure, your Pride fanny pack or backpack has a rainbow, but is it cute? Kate Spade absolutely nailed an adorable rainbow-themed item with its subtle rainbow tote bag. A good tote bag serves so many purposes, and having a stylish, versatile Pride collectable to carry things in all year long makes it all the better. Even better, it can be paired with a matching heart-shaped coin purse or card case.
Kate Spade renewed its partnership with the Trevor Project for its pride collection with a donation of $70,000. It features three beautiful pieces in collaboration with Brooklyn-based artist Perryn Ford.
“Say Gay” by Banter
Jewelry company Banter produced a truly timely piece of jewelry for Pride this year with a limited-edition “Say Gay” 24k gold-plated nameplate necklace. “Say Gay” has become such a slogan of empowerment in 2022, as “Don’t Say Gay” bills across the country have attempted to silence LGBTQ+ children and adults. Accordingly, 100% of the retail price for this necklace is being donated to the It Gets Better project, an organization that focuses on connecting and supporting queer youth.
Round Dutch LOVE’n by LeCrueset, $400
This item proves you don’t need to buy a piece of clothing to show off your Pride — home goods can be just flamboyant. LeCrueset has termed this Dutch oven its “Round Dutch LOVE’n” in a cute-in-a-cheesy-way for Pride. It certainly does create a way to make sure every meal is just a little bit gayer. The scattered rainbow hearts add such a cute and loving touch to a versatile piece of cookware you can use every day.
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