Underdare

NOW TAKING SHOPPING APPOINTMENTSThe Twin Cities first, in-person, shopping experience exclusively for gender-affirming undergarments. underDARE is a physical location for LGBTQ+ folks to shop for gender-affirming and other community-specific undergarments they would otherwise have to find online. With multiple brands and inclusive sizing, underDARE has a comfortable, safe, nurturing, appointment-only setting for people to touch, try on, and purchase undergarments. Founder Marcy Darling explains her motivation for the shop’s launch: “Our youngest child came out as trans-masculine four years ago, at age 11. As he physically matured, he needed compression tanks and traditional chest binders.” She added, “We quickly found out that, even here in our trans-refuge state, the only way to shop for these items is online—without being able to feel them or try them on for size, which can be a very frustrating experience.” Together, Marcy and son realized they could be the answer to this frustration. Marcy runs a one-chair salon/gift shop in south Minneapolis, and they knew the salon’s lower level would be the perfect space for the trans+ community to shop safely and privately for gender-affirming garments. Young Master Darling explains, “When my mom mentioned that together we could start a store for trans people to shop in person and try on things before buying them, I thought that would be pretty cool!” He added, “Because it’s been really frustrating trying to get the stuff I want to try.” Marcy replied, “This is crucial. We hope that everyone who cares about the trans+ community will spread the word about this critical missing piece in our otherwise welcoming state.”