In March 2016, I wrote a post about my experience navigating gendered underwear options. At the time, I struggled to find a pair that affirmed my gender, helped manage gender dysphoria, and fit my body shape. I remember buying my first pair of masculine underwear from the "men’s" section. I nervously walked to the underwear aisle, anxious about the stares I might receive. Eager to escape the discomfort, I grabbed the first pair I could find-- gray briefs with a thick black waistband. For me, the waistband symbolized power, masculinity, and an expression/affirmation of my gender. I felt more confident in this underwear-- more like myself. But over time, I realized the underwear that fit my internal self didn’t look the way I wanted it to on my body. The shape and proportions of my body seemed to prevent the reflection in the mirror from matching the image in my head. After years of working to love my body, gender, and self-expression, I noticed the name given to gendered underwear didn’t really matter anymore. I didn’t care what aisle it came from, I was seeking body affirmation, fit, functionality, and comfort. It’s now March 2021, and I couldn’t be more excited and proud to be a co-founder at Urbody -- a functional fashion brand of gender-affirming underwear and bodywear designed for human beings. Urbody believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to get dressed for the day with confidence, and that starts with what’s underneath. Urbody's garments are designed to help you outwardly dress for who you are within. The fashion industry must move towards a more inclusive place-- a world that sees all genders. If you deal with gender dysphoria or are looking for more tools for gender and body affirmation, you can check out Urbody’s first collection at www.urbody.co using the early access code fullyhuman. Sign up for the newsletter and get a code for 10% off your first purchase! @urbodyco #urbody #inurbody