By Alexandra Lekas

 Pride month is all about celebrating self-expression and your freedom to be, look, and feel however you like. It’s a month dedicated to being proud of your identity and communicating it to the world in all sorts of ways. For most people, fashion is a way to convey our colorful identities and individuality, which is something Balenciaga understands.

This year, the renowned fashion brand, Balenciaga, has released a capsule collection celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community through various pieces such as shirts, hoodies, undergarments, accessories, and more.

In addition to incorporating the pride flag on many of the garments, some of the pieces feature the words “GAY Pride” in a Gap-style format, while other styles have the brand name highlighted in rainbow colors. The prices range from $150-895 USD.

In a statement about the collection, the luxury brand’s creative director, Demna Gvasalia, said: “I’m gay. I grew up in a society where I couldn’t have worn that, and there are places in the world that you cannot today. It’s important to push through against homophobia. I’m not someone who goes out in the street and shouts. But this is the political fashion activism I can do.”

On their website, it states, “Balenciaga is partnering with The Trevor Project in its mission to prevent LGBTQ youth suicide. Fashion can be useful beyond its practical purposes by highlighting important issues like this one.”

Beyond promoting LGBTQIA+ visibility and incorporating political activism, Balenciaga has a higher mission. This capsule collection is meant to make people feel confident in their identities and express themselves through fashion every day, not just in June.

Shop the collection here: https://www.balenciaga.com/en-us/all/discover/pride#656519372B49000