Diversity, or rather the lack thereof, is a big topic these days. So I reached out to Garçon Model, an underwear brand (as you do), to get their thoughts about diversity.
Garçon Model is a Canadian-based underwear brand. It started in 2013 with a mission to bring men’s underwear up to date with other areas of men’s fashion. Just because it’s an undergarment, doesn’t mean the choices need to be limited, right?
And the male underwear market is big business these days. According to a 2015 report published by Persistence Market Research, the male underwear market is well on it’s way to becoming a USD $20 billion (with a B) industry by 2020.
Now if you’re selling underwear, it’s only logical that you will be employing models wearing said underwear to display the goods you’re selling. And herein, some potential issues begin to emerge. As we all know, sex sells. And the kind of sexy images directed towards gay men usually tend to be of young, fit and predominantly white guys. Not exactly a bastion for promoting diversity, right?
READ – Why I’ll Never Be Instagay Hot (& Why I’m Totally OK With It)
I’ve written numerous times on this blog about the need to widen our definition of what we consider attractive or beautiful to better incorporate guys of all shapes, sizes and colours. But I’m also wise to the ways of business. Businesses need to do whatever they can to stay afloat. It’s not necessarily up to them to be change agents. They often times, simply reflect what their customers want – or what they think their customers want.
I’ve experienced this anecdotally myself on the blog as well. If I promote an article on social media using an image of a “typically attractive”guy(young, fit, white), the post tends to get a mush better response then when I use an image of a less fit guy, or an older guy or an ethnically diverse guy. It sucks – but that seems to be the current reality.
Now I don’t make any money off the blog. This gives me more freedom. I am happy to forgo post likes and page views in order to use an image, or wording, that truly reflects what I am thinking and what I am wanting to express. But if this was my business, my sole source of incomes for instance, I’d have to make a hard choice between money or morals.
Which brings us to Garçon Model. They are a business and they need to make money. Based on what it is that they sell, underwear, they employ models to showcase their product. Unlike other brands in this industry, I’ve noticed that they do go some ways in utilising a diverse range of models. There are guys of different ethnic and racial backgrounds, guys with body hair and guys with tattoos. Interestingly, not too many unfit or older guys though.
I recently had the opportunity to chat with the team from Garçon Model about some of these issues. Here’s what we discussed:
Little Gay Blog – Thank you for your time. How important is reflecting diversity to Garçon Model, and how do you balance that with potentially competing commercial and financial interests?
GM – In the context of this increasingly divided society, we feel it is our duty to be an agent of change. We believe in our very core in equality and diversity and in our mind it shouldn’t even be something to think twice about. We are simply doing what feels right regardless of any commercial motivations or risk factors.
Who is a typical Garçon Model customer, and what’s some of the most common feedback you get from your customers?
Garçon Model’s customer base is constituted of modern men from all horizons but united by their love for forward fashion and progressive thinking. To wear Garçon Model you have to be ready to break free of the conformity of the current fashion normative model and be open to express yourself in bold and colourful ways.
We know our customer base pretty well from chatting with them on social media and through constant feedback with our customer service department and everyone has nothing but supportive comments to pass on.
Why do you think showcasing diversity (when it comes to appearance at least) is still the exception rather than rule in the general fashion/modelling world?
Let’s face it, the fashion industry is still extremely conservative. Everything is compartmentalised and very few are ready to defy the status quo. Money is also the main driver which makes people in charge even more wary of changes. It takes the new generation to break these archaic clichés and create a world of our own image.
What role would you like Garçon Model to play in shaping gay guy’s self-esteem and body acceptance?
Everyday, the industry is trying to sell us this unrealistic image of the world which revolves around perfection and money. But we think nowadays, people are craving real values like equality, fairness and compassion, and we’re with them.
The recent Orlando tragedy just proved it to us even more. We’re not quite out of the woods yet, and we need to stick together which means embracing and supporting each other.
Garçon Model showcases, in my own opinion, a pretty good mix of guys. But I’d like to know, would you ever use a model that a) isn’t muscly and doesn’t have a six pack and b) is older, say over 40? Why/why not?
We’re still a young company but we have big plan for the future. We are committed to celebrating everyone’s beauty and sexiness. We created a selfie contest, where we reward all body types. More great stuff will also definitely come as we grow.
For more information, check out the Garçon Model website.
You can also follow them on your choice of social media –
Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Tumblr.
Pingback: titanium aluminum carbide Ti3AlC2
Pingback: เงิน ด่วน นอก ระบบ โคราช
Pingback: Manufacturers Suppliers Exporters Importers Products Trade Leads Supplier from china
Pingback: DMEM cell culture medium
Pingback: well designed PK study
Pingback: Pharmacokinetic models in rats
Pingback: Caco-2 Assay data
Pingback: pharmacokinetic studies contract research organization
Pingback: https://luxuryshavingrazors.com
Pingback: 예스벳 88
Pingback: GVK BIO
Pingback: in vitro vs invivo
Pingback: UK Chat
Pingback: รับทำเว็บไซต์
Pingback: seo company seo agency
Pingback: Car TV Show
Pingback: new site
Pingback: Income Tax Services
Pingback: navigate to this site
Pingback: onion wiki link
Pingback: sherlyn popelka
Pingback: senatium whois
Pingback: agencia de viajes en managua
Pingback: Dentist in Turlock California
Pingback: สำนักงาน ที่ดิน จังหวัด สุรินทร์
Pingback: vinyl decal cornhole
Pingback: cheapest smm panel
Pingback: BTC TA Stock Market Sells Off and Gold Takes Off Hitting 6 Year High
Pingback: 바카라사이트
Pingback: พนันบอลออนไลน์
Pingback: 카지노게임사이트
Pingback: fun 88
Pingback: didi
Pingback: 카지노사이트
Pingback: try here
Pingback: Dave Holmes Coldplay
Pingback: Online Adult Store
Pingback: regulation cornhole board set
Pingback: i99bet
Pingback: Cialis 10mg generic
Pingback: Cialis 80mg for sale
Pingback: cheap Cialis 40mg
Pingback: Cialis 40mg prices
Pingback: sildenafil 130mg uk
Pingback: how to buy tadalafil 10 mg
Pingback: how to buy levitra 40 mg
Pingback: lasix 40 mg without a prescription
Pingback: furosemide 40 mg cheap
Pingback: propecia 1mg cost
Pingback: lexapro 10mg without prescription
Pingback: abilify 10mg otc
Pingback: actos 30mg united states
Pingback: cheap aldactone 100 mg
Pingback: allegra 120 mg for sale
Pingback: cheapest allopurinol 300mg
Pingback: amaryl 1 mg online pharmacy
Pingback: amoxicillin 500 mg coupon
Pingback: ampicillin 250 mg usa
Pingback: antabuse 500mg online pharmacy
Pingback: strattera 40 mg over the counter
Pingback: aricept 5 mg coupon
Pingback: arimidex 1mg tablets
Pingback: tamoxifen 20mg tablet
Pingback: ashwagandha 60caps usa
Pingback: how to purchase atarax 25 mg
Pingback: augmentin 750/250mg nz
Pingback: avapro 150 mg coupon
Pingback: avodart 0,5 mg usa
Pingback: baclofen 25mg prices
Pingback: bactrim 800/160mg without prescription
Pingback: benicar 20 mg price
Pingback: calcium carbonate 500mg without a prescription
Pingback: cardizem 30 mg canada
Pingback: casodex 50mg over the counter
Pingback: catapres without a doctor prescription
Pingback: ceclor 500 mg nz
Pingback: ceftin 125 mg cost
Pingback: how to buy celexa
Pingback: cephalexin australia
Pingback: cipro 500mg pills
Pingback: claritin online
Pingback: real online casino
Pingback: real casino online
Pingback: virgin casino online nj login
Pingback: sugarhouse casino online
Pingback: online casino games
Pingback: jackpot party casino
Pingback: online casino real money no deposit
Pingback: empire casino online
Pingback: casino slot
Pingback: online casino real money
Pingback: owners car insurance
Pingback: compare car insurance quotes
Pingback: car insurance quotes online
Pingback: 21 century insurance
Pingback: auto liability insurance
Pingback: owners car insurance
Pingback: best insurance car
Pingback: insurance quote car
Pingback: infinity car insurance
Pingback: online car insurance quotes
Pingback: same day personal loans
Pingback: payday loans lancaster ca
Pingback: 24 hour payday loans
Pingback: installment loans long beach ca
Pingback: quick loans places near me
Pingback: bad credit loans bad credit direct lenders
Pingback: payday loans las vegas
Pingback: low interest personal loans
Pingback: cbd oil for pain at walmart
Pingback: does cbd oil help tinnitus
Pingback: cbd oil for cats benefits
Pingback: best rated cbd hemp oil for pain
Pingback: cbd oil and anxiety
Pingback: cbd oil for anxiety
Pingback: bill gates cbd oil
Pingback: cbd oil capsules for sale
Pingback: how much cbd oil should i take
Pingback: write essays for me
Pingback: online essay
Pingback: buy pre written essays
Pingback: best custom essay writing services
Pingback: essay writing service online
Pingback: write essay for money
Pingback: random assignments
Pingback: random assignments
Pingback: good homework music
Pingback: buy nothing day essay
Pingback: buy cleocin
Pingback: cheapest clomid 100 mg
Pingback: clonidine 0,1mg generic
Pingback: colchicine pharmacy
Pingback: order symbicort inhaler 160/4,5 mcg
Pingback: combivent without a prescription
Pingback: coreg uk
Pingback: compazine nz
Pingback: cialis online
Pingback: cozaar 50mg australia
Pingback: order crestor 20mg
Pingback: homework essay help
Pingback: cost of cymbalta
Pingback: custom application essay
Pingback: dissertation printing
Pingback: essay writing service reviews
Pingback: thesis proposal help
Pingback: thesis phd
Pingback: dapsone caps united states
Pingback: where can i find someone to write my college paper
Pingback: buy research papers
Pingback: ddavp tablet
Pingback: depakote 500mg no prescription
Pingback: diamox 250mg no prescription
Pingback: differin canada
Pingback: diltiazem purchase
Pingback: cheapest doxycycline 100 mg
Pingback: dramamine 50mg medication
Pingback: elavil 10 mg nz
Pingback: where can i buy erythromycin 500mg
Pingback: etodolac purchase
Pingback: flomax 0,2 mg australia
Pingback: where to buy flonase nasal spray 50mcg
Pingback: cheap essay papers
Pingback: garcinia cambogia caps united states
Pingback: geodon cost
Pingback: hyzaar united kingdom
Pingback: imdur 30 mg coupon
Pingback: online cialis
Pingback: cialis without a doctor prescription
Pingback: imitrex australia
Pingback: cialis cost
Pingback: cheap tadalafil
Pingback: imodium 2 mg tablet
Pingback: generic viagra cost
Pingback: Find Out More
Pingback: viagra for women
Pingback: over the counter viagra
Pingback: viagra ingredients
Pingback: imuran tablet
Pingback: indocin 50mg australia
Pingback: lamisil tablet
Pingback: levaquin cheap
Pingback: order lopid 300mg
Pingback: lopressor coupon
Pingback: macrobid without prescription
Pingback: meclizine 25mg pills
Pingback: mestinon pills
Pingback: approved canadian online pharmacies
Pingback: micardis usa
Pingback: best canadian online pharmacy
Pingback: Lexapro
Pingback: mobic 15mg for sale
Pingback: medicine online shopping
Pingback: motrin 400mg for sale
Pingback: Stromectol
Pingback: nortriptyline 25 mg online pharmacy
Pingback: how to purchase periactin 4mg
Pingback: phenergan 25mg nz
Pingback: viagra
Pingback: plaquenil pills
Pingback: prednisolone 5mg united kingdom
Pingback: how to buy prevacid 15mg
Pingback: cheap prilosec 40mg
Pingback: proair inhaler 100mcg australia
Pingback: procardia purchase
Pingback: proscar 5mg united states
Pingback: how to purchase protonix
Pingback: provigil without prescription
Pingback: pulmicort 200mcg online
Pingback: pyridium prices
Pingback: reglan 10mg australia
Pingback: cheapest remeron
Pingback: retin-a cream 0.025% coupon
Pingback: revatio online pharmacy
Pingback: risperdal 3 mg medication
Pingback: robaxin 500mg australia
Pingback: order rogaine
Pingback: how to buy seroquel 25mg
Pingback: singulair 5 mg price
Pingback: buy skelaxin
Pingback: spiriva 9 mcg australia
Pingback: tenormin 50mg coupon
Pingback: thorazine 50mg without a prescription
Pingback: where to buy toprol
Pingback: tricor online
Pingback: valtrex no prescription
Pingback: verapamil 40 mg uk
Pingback: voltaren 100mg medication
Pingback: wellbutrin for sale
Pingback: zanaflex 4 mg australia
Pingback: zestril 2,5 mg over the counter
Pingback: zithromax tablets
Pingback: find out this here
Pingback: zocor 10mg tablets
Pingback: zovirax online pharmacy
Pingback: zyloprim tablet
Pingback: where to buy zyprexa 7,5 mg
Pingback: zyvox coupon
Pingback: sildenafil generic
Pingback: order tadalafil
Pingback: cheap furosemide 40 mg
Pingback: escitalopram pharmacy
Pingback: aripiprazole 15mg canada
Pingback: pioglitazone generic
Pingback: spironolactone tablets
Pingback: how to buy fexofenadine
Pingback: glimepiride nz
Pingback: meclizine price
Pingback: leflunomide 20 mg prices
Pingback: atomoxetine for sale
Pingback: donepezil 10 mg prices
Pingback: anastrozole without a doctor prescription
Pingback: irbesartan australia
Pingback: dutasteride 0,5 mg canada
Pingback: olmesartan 10 mg no prescription
Pingback: buspirone 10mg prices
Pingback: order clonidine 0.1 mg
Pingback: cefuroxime tablet
Pingback: celecoxib 100 mg for sale
Pingback: citalopram 10 mg price
Pingback: cialis no prescription canada
Pingback: cephalexin 500mg cost
Pingback: ciprofloxacin 1000mg for sale
Pingback: cialis dosage
Pingback: clindamycin 150mg usa
Pingback: clozapine 25mg online
Pingback: generic cialis coupons
Pingback: prochlorperazine australia
Pingback: how to buy carvedilol 25 mg
Pingback: warfarin price
Pingback: dapoxetine and generic cialis
Pingback: rosuvastatin 10 mg nz
Pingback: divalproex price
Pingback: how to purchase trazodone 100mg
Pingback: tolterodine tablets
Pingback: acetazolamide australia
Pingback: 365 pills viagra cialis professional
Pingback: cialis sell
Pingback: fluconazole online pharmacy
Pingback: phenytoin without a prescription
Pingback: oxybutynin 5mg nz
Pingback: doxycycline purchase
Pingback: bisacodyl otc
Pingback: venlafaxine 37.5mg australia
Pingback: amitriptyline canada
Pingback: permethrin 30g no prescription
Pingback: estradiol 1mg no prescription
Pingback: etodolac 200 mg without a doctor prescription
Pingback: tamsulosin cost
Pingback: mvsouwsg
Pingback: alendronate without a prescription
Pingback: how to use kamagra oral jelly
Pingback: nitrofurantoin pills
Pingback: wat doet viagra precies
Pingback: zithromax chlamydia how long
Pingback: glipizide united states
Pingback: hydrochlorothiazide 10mg pharmacy
Pingback: isosorbide coupon
Pingback: will my insurance pay for cialis
Pingback: buy cialis
Pingback: 100 mg viagra
Pingback: azathioprine online pharmacy
Pingback: viagra barato
Pingback: legal essay writing service
Pingback: writing an introduction for a research paper
Pingback: write my essay for cheap
Pingback: help me start an essay on problem solving
Pingback: business ethics and sustainability essay