How This Young Hungarian Designer is Fighting for Trans Rights

One of the most important things for Kis-Juhasz was to showcase the wide range of trans identities. “Trans visibility has had a big rise in fashion over the last couple of years, and you see gorgeous girls like Teddy Quinlivan and Hunter Schafer book these major jobs and break these glass ceilings, but that’s not the reality for most trans women,” adds Kis-Juhasz. “Passing and looking feminine is a very divisive subject in the trans community. Most trans women, especially from previous generations, didn’t have the privilege to begin their transition before puberty or to afford HRT in general. We need to normalize and validate the identities of trans women who chose not to, or didn’t have the means to medically transition.”

Throughout the zine, the text touches on topics such as performity and gender theory. In the introduction Kis-Juhasz muses on gender and trans body. The scholastic bent aligns perfectly with Kis-Juhasz’s designs, as she relies on academic research and feminist theory when dreaming up new collections. The Budapest-based curator Zsu Zsuro, who recently organized Queer Budapest, an art show that delved into contemporary queer culture in Hungary, also contributed text in the zine. In the intro of Audition, Kis-Juhasz muses on why unisex clothing is usually more masculine than feminine, and how femininity can threaten masculinity. “Femininity could corrupt masculinity,” she proclaims. “Because it was created to be subservient, adapting feminine traits to a masculine identity would be considered degrading, shameful. It is the ultimate treason!”

But even without the text, everything from the silhouettes to the color palettes and makeup seen on Kis-Juhasz’s models makes one ponder societal gender roles. “Clothes are one of the ultimate tools we use to perform our identities and I built my brand around this idea,” says Kis-Juhasz. “It just makes so much sense for me to make clothes that help elevate someone’s femininity.”

CREDITS:

Photography- Hanna Redling @hannaredling

Curation- Zsu Zsuro @zsuzsuro

additional text: Marjolijn Oostermeijer @marjooost

Photo assistant: Roxane Juhasz @r0xxsteady

Talent:

AMADEA @amadeaofficial

Rahel Kis @ksrahel

Angyal Elvira Margarita

Angyal Tamara Szilvia

Makeup:

Karol Muller @karolmuller5000

Jordana Kalmar @hanyagjardena

Hair: Veronika Fabian @hairlabbudapest

Nails: Dracula Nails @draculanails

Jewellery: Rebekah Bide @rebekahbide