Designer Andrew Christian, the fashion designer whose swim/underwear designs (and hunky models) have been iconic in the LGBTQ community for over 25 year, has announced his fall collection will be his last.
In sharing the news, Christian was candid about his journey from growing up poor in Fresno, California, to becoming a gay fashion trend-setter in West Hollywood.
From Christian’s statement:
I began this journey with the wounds of my childhood still fresh—growing up gay in Fresno’s Section 8 housing meant learning to endure racial and anti-gay slurs, like “beaner” and “faggot,” before I knew how to properly thread a needle.
At 18, I escaped to Los Angeles, trading one form of hardship for another as I found myself alone in a converted garage, all I could afford, with nothing but terror and hope intertwined. My sketchbook was my only companion, my armor against loneliness.
Fashion wasn’t just an aspiration; it was survival. It became my sanctuary, my declaration of gay existence. Each stitch was a heartbeat; each garment, not just a part of my story, but my coming out.
For over a quarter of a century, I have poured my soul into this craft—building not just clothes, but sacred havens where my LGBTQ family could feel seen, valued, and beautiful.
[snip]
To the young queer dreamers clutching sketchbooks in the corners of rooms not built for you—I see you. Your hands may tremble now, but they will one day shape worlds. The very difference that makes you feel alone today will become your greatest strength—your signature on everything you create.
Trust your instinct, even when the path feels impossible. Take the terror and hope we all carry in our youth, and stitch them into something breathtaking.
Read Christian’s full statement here.
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