L’Insane and the Concept Of Gender-Neutral Fashion
Almost everybody, whether consciously or subconsciously, uses clothing as a major means of gender expression. For those who don’t adhere to traditional notions of gender, however, searching for clothing that allows them to reflect that can be difficult, if not outright impossible. "L’Insane," a non-binary concept store that just opened in January in Paris’ 3rd arrondissement, is seeking to disrupt the idea of strictly gendered clothing. It is a space where anyone regardless of their gender identity, can shop comfortably and wear whatever they so choose.
And L’Insane is not the only place in the fashion world that has begun to embrace the concept of gender-neutral fashion. In fact, gender-neutral fashion has become increasingly visible on high-fashion runways, with more and more brands such as Gucci and Balenciaga choosing to hold co-ed shows in recent years.
View from the interior of L'Insane. Image credit: Olivia Paradice
So, what makes L’Insane different from your average clothing store? Stepping into the store, one certainly does feel as though you’re entering a whole new world. Located slightly off the beaten path on Rue des Arquebusiers (a side street just off the bustling Boulevard Beaumarchais in Le Marais district), the store’s stark white walls and floors, impeccably dressed workers, and background noise of electro-pop music are in contrast with the quiet street outside. The space lacks the sex and/or gender-based clothing sections that are found in 99.99% of clothing stores, a fact which marks it as nonbinary-friendly from the get-go. Indeed, I didn’t even realize I was subconsciously expecting the store to have gendered clothing sections until I noticed that they, of course, weren’t there.
Additionally, the store brings together pieces from designers such as Koché, Dust, and Palamo Spain to create an eclectic collection that truly does defy traditional gendered expectations of clothing. Examples of pieces that can be found in-store range from an enormous puffy denim jacket, to a sweatshirt with queer terminology printed all over, to simple printed tees, to cropped sweatshirts galore.
While not obviously a queer space at first glance, once inside the store certainly feels like a place where one could be comfortable expressing themselves in whatever way they so please, whether that be in a brown vinyl jacket and trousers or rainbow print sweatpants.
A rack of clothing in L'Insane. Image credit: Olivia Paradice
For an unexpected twist, the store features a "playroom," a small room with a sitting area, a display corner stocked with fashion journals such as “Document” and various accessories. Owner Lyne Zein declared to The Business of Fashion in an interview that L’Insane is a “social space with innovative concepts.” She also claimed the store will have “monthly art installations.”
A mannequin display in the window of L'Insane. Image credit: Olivia Paradice
While L'Insane is certainly an admirable concept, it is unfortunately inaccessible to a large number of non-binary people due to its price point. It is very much a luxury fashion store with prices for a single piece ranging from just under 100 Euros to well over 1,000. Still, the mere existence of such a concept shows that gender-neutral fashion is starting to make its way off of runways and into more stores. It offers hope that perhaps gender-neutral clothing could spread to lower-priced clothing stores.
Find L'Insane online:
Online store: https://www.l-insane.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linsaneworld/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linsane.shop/
