I was tired. Tired of flipping through clothes racks and finding nothing that sparked joy, nothing that whispered, "This is you." Tired of the saccharine pink and baby blue pigeonholed for "women's" clothing, the stiff, boxy cuts of "men's" - neither spoke to the vibrant, multifaceted being I was. Tired of Pride being the only time I felt a sliver of representation, a single "they/them" button a meagre offering to a vast spectrum of identities.
That exhaustion became the seed of Thaddy & Themme. I envisioned a brand that wasn't an afterthought, a consolation prize. It would be a brand that roared, a brand that draped you in confidence, a brand that whispered, "You are a goddamn goddess/god/godself, walk like it."
Thaddy & Themme wasn't just about clothes for me, it was about reclaiming the narrative for all of us. The name, a playful twist on "Daddy & Mommy," shattered the binary from the very beginning. The clothes themselves? A glorious rebellion. Flowing silks that caressed every curve, regardless of its origin. Bold, geometric patterns that defied categorization. Deep, rich colors that mirrored the complexity of your identity.
But Thaddy & Themme wasn't just about outward expression. It was about re-igniting the fire within you. The campaigns wouldn't feature impossibly proportioned models, but a kaleidoscope of trans and gender-expansive people, all radiating their own brand of magnetism. Intimate, black and white portraits would capture the raw vulnerability and strength that resided in each of you. Here, vulnerability wasn't a weakness, it was the wellspring of power.
The brand voice was another rebellion. No more flowery pronouncements about "feeling beautiful." Thaddy & Themme spoke a bolder language. "Unleash your inner deity," it would say. "Embrace the fire that burns within you. You are a force to be reckoned with, in whatever way you choose to express yourself."
And it resonated. Thaddy & Themme became a beacon, a safe space where trans and gender-expansive folks could find not just clothes, but a community. In the comments under the campaigns, stories unfolded. People talked about feeling seen for the first time, about rediscovering their sensuality, about the sheer joy of putting on an outfit that felt like a second skin, a reflection of your soul.
Thaddy & Themme wasn't just a brand, it was a revolution. It was a middle finger to the narrow definition of beauty, a love letter to the magnificent diversity of trans and gender-expansive identities. It was a reminder that every single one of you held the divine within, a being worthy of adoration, worthy of setting the world on fire.