A Father Invents Swimwear to Help His Transgender Child
For trans people, showing up in a bathing suit or bikini can take a lot of courage. That's why one father created special swimwear
The story of Ruby and her father Jamie touches hearts: Ruby was born a boy, but she doesn't identify with her gender. She is trans. The daily lives of trans people are fraught with obstacles, as society still reacts in part with misunderstanding towards them. Trans people in particular, who are read as their biological sex, often have to deal with hostility. For his daughter Ruby, Jamie invented a pair of swimwear bottoms that would make her feel comfortable going swimming. In doing so, he changed not only her life, but the lives of many other trans and non-binary people. That's how the brand was born: "Rubies".
Read the story of this special bond between a dad and his daughter on the following pages:
Ruby Received Early Support From Her Parents
When her parents noticed that Ruby wasn't interested in the typical "boy stuff," she was only three years old. She loved dancing to R&B and pop icon Beyoncé's music videos, for example, and happily wore high heels. Soon, her parents Jamie and his wife Angela joined a support group that helped Ruby figure out which gender she could identify with – or if she could identify with any at all.
Later, when it came to finding nice swimsuits for Ruby that she would feel comfortable in, things went awry. Jamie then quit his job as a technical director at a software company and created the "Rubies" brand.
This is the brand's concept:
"Every Girl Deserves to Shine"
That's the brand's motto! In collaboration with a textile engineer and a fashion entrepreneur, Jamie produced the first bikini pants. They integrated elastane for a compression effect that ensures a good fit.
The brand reflects the radiant personality of daughter Ruby, who is involved in every process. Together, they carry an image outward that normalizes the positive experiences and stories of trans children and doesn't want to be limited to social barriers.
In addition to Ruby and Jamie, there are users on TikTok who share their support for trans and non-binary people, for example:
H&M "Binders" Are Celebrated on TikTok
Although not explicitly marketed as binders, it seems that more and more trans people who want to hide their breasts are using H&M bras. In fact, the product is sold at H&M as a sports bra, but in a smaller size, the bra works almost like a binder. For many, the bra currently seems to be a cheap alternative to real binders. However, you should be careful here as well and not buy the binder too small. This could otherwise have a negative impact on the tissues and muscles underneath and can lead to breathing difficulties.
In the TikTok of a.citrus.friend, you can see that the "binder" can lead to a beaming face. It presses the chest flat against the body, so that it feels like you don't have a chest.
This positive and mutual support on social media is inspiring!