Fashioning Identity:

Like a picture is worth a thousand words, your clothing says a lot about you— whether you know it or not. It can be a powerful tool in finding and expressing your identity, and everyone’s relationship with clothing is unique. For millennia, different cultures, communities, and individuals around the world have been using clothing in many ways; not just a means to cover their bodies, but as a form of expression, connection, identity, solidarity, and resistance.

The small but thriving 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the Mississippi Valley of Ontario is no stranger to using clothing to signify their identity. Nine participants have sat down with the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum to share their style and journey with clothing. In exploring their individual stories, you’ll see similarities and differences. You’ll see that it can take time, support, and privilege to use clothing to express yourself— but it’s worth it to feel good in your clothing and confident in yourself.