Pride 2023: 14 LGBTQ-Themed Collaborations We Can Actually Get Behind
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Pride Month, as a summer-long celebration of diversity, acceptance and love, will continue on this year — though not without controversy. Within the past few years, it’s become more socially acceptable for brands to launch “Pride-themed” collaborations and merch. But how relevant is Pride merch when brands start getting cold feet whenever they face backlash or controversy for their collections?
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Brands working with the LGBTQ community isn’t new: H&M has been a longtime collaborator with LGBTQ actors and activists, and last year their “My Chosen Family” initiative donated $100,000 to the UN Free & Equal campaign, a global fight for equality led by United Nations Human Rights. Still, the intense conservative backlash and aggressive social media campaigns against LGBTQ+ products brands have released this year have seen some companies either choose to stay silent on their support, or pull their funding from Pride events entirely. This is especially unsavory after three years that’ve hit the community especially hard, financially-speaking.
According to YouGov, a quarter of Americans say that they’re more likely to shop from LGBTQ-friendly brands, and over 80% are likely to try new products from brands that actively support LGBTQ communities as opposed to ones that don’t. Authenticity is clearly key here, and despite the controversy, we’re seeing more and more brands put their money where their mouth is, choosing to donate to worthy causes and stand up to hate. North Face recently stood by their Pride campaign in spite of right-wing criticism after they featured the drag queen Pattie Gonia in an Instagram ad.
We’ve rounded up several collaborations to shop for Pride Month 2023, from brands that are using their platform for good. Each of these collections either partner with LGBTQ actors and artists, give back to charity, or have a portion of proceeds go to support a number of prominent and worthwhile causes.
1. UGG
UGG teamed up with TikTok interviewer Davis Burleson and a panel of LGBTQ ambassadors to spread joy and contribute to safe-space storytelling this Pride Month. Partnering with The Trevor Project, UGG is also donating $125,000 through their “Feel Seen. Feel Heard.” campaign to advance the organization’s mission to support crucial mental health services and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth.
The company is also releasing a limited-edition collection of all-gender footwear and apparel in Pride-inspired colors, such as the cozy, rainbow-patterned Tazz Pridepop and the all-gender Olympia Pride Jacket.
UGG Pride Collection
2. Coach
Coach isn’t just slapping a rainbow on some luxury purses: The fashion brand has long been an outspoken supporter of LGBTQ causes, releasing annual Pride collections, partnering with nonprofits and donating to community funds around the world through the Coach Foundation.
This year, the Coach Foundation’s “Courage to Be Real” campaign will make donations to the brand’s longstanding LGBTQ partners, including the Hetrick-Martin Institute, Point Foundation and CenterLink to support their work connecting young LGBTQ folks with supportive communities. The collection includes Coach’s iconic canvas bags, sneakers, and slides remixing their with classic logo with pride flag-inspired colors. Prices range for $85 for Pavé Rexy Stud Earrings, to $695 for a leather Field Tote 40.
Coach Pride Collection
3. Savage X Fenty
When Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty line isn’t busy promoting safe sex, her gender-inclusive lingerie line has a particularly smoking Pride capsule that’s got us feeling, hot, hot, hot this summer.
The brand’s 2023 Pride campaign teamed up with Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin to partner with Clara Lionel Foundation who support organizations that aid the LGBTQ community. There’s new Pride gear of course, but most importantly, the launch of sexy lingerie, bralettes, and underwear that are vibrant enough to outshine the gender binary year-round. From bold and bright mesh, to custom prints and silhouettes, these pieces are stunners from the bedroom to the parade route (Fenty Beauty also has a page on makeup pairings for these looks, too).
Savage X Fenty Pride Capsule
4. Smartwool
From hats to bandanas, Smartwool’s Pride Collection combines comfortable apparel and accessories with outdoor-friendly durability. Along with the company’s line of high-quality signature socks, this quick-drying Active Ultralite Pride Graphic Tank comes in two different styles, from a minimal smiley face design to a colorful “Love” graphic pattern that you can rock this month and all year long.
Made with a blend of both Merino wool and polyester, the shirt comes in seven different sizes and is designed to keep you cool outdoors in the heat. As part of its latest Pride Collection, Smartwool says it will donate $10,000 to The Center on Colfax in Colorado, which has helped support the LGBTQ+ community since 1976.
Smartwool Pride Collection
5. Harry’s
The popular men’s grooming company, Harry’s, has brought back their popular Pride Shave Set this year, which includes an iridescent razor customized with a unique ribbed handle. The set also includes three blade cartridges (for your face and for your bod) and a travel blade cover.
The limited-edition set comes in an art-inspired box, this year adorned with a poem written just for the set titled Repeat After Me by the poet and writer Saeed Jones. As with every year, Harry’s says they’ll donate $5 for every set purchased to The Trevor Project, which will help the nonprofit group serve more than 80,000 LGBTQ youth in crisis this year.
Harry’s Pride Shave Set
6. Nordstrom
Besides Nordstrom‘s “Be Proud by BP.” line and collaboration with queer-owned fashion brand Wildfang, the site has forgone the typical rainbow-swathed Pride collection to put the spotlight on LGBTQ owned and founded brands. This year they’re highlighting Boy Smells (cult-favorite candle brand disrupting gender norms in fragrances), TomboyX (apparel for all bodies, needs and sizes across the gender spectrum), and K.NGSLEY (a buzzy genderless brand with designs created through the lens of reclaiming the Black, queer and femme body) — making this a truly inclusive offering.
Nordstrom says they will also giving back to the nonprofit Trans Lifeline, Hetrick-Martin Institute and Human Rights Campaign, even beyond Pride Month.
Nordstrom Pride Collection
7. Sperry
“Classic style transcends boundaries”, and we couldn’t agree more. If you’re looking for some gender-neutral kicks to wear to the festivities this June, Sperry has partnered with PFLAG National for Pride for the third year in a row to create their pride collection, this year in honor of the organization’s 50th anniversary.
Celebrating love throughout the decades, Sperry has updated their classic silhouettes (from the Cloud CVO Sneakers to the Original Boat Shoe) with minimalist flags and splashes of color from the traditional rainbow, transgender, lesbian, bisexual, and progress Pride flags. Sperry is also giving the option to donate $1 or $5 at checkout to PFLAG National so you can help support the LGBTQ+ community further.
SodaStream Pride Sparkling Water Maker
8. Levi’s
While there are a number of brands toting gender-neutral fashion lines this summer, the Levi’s Pride collection celebrates the spectrum of identities in the LGBTQ community. Their latest line of tees, denim and accessories are naturally designed to be worn by anyone, from sheer dresses, to vintage-looking denim vests.
Levi’s makes an annual $100,000 donation to OutRight Action International, a nonprofit working year-round to defend and advance human rights for LGBTQ people around the globe. For this year’s collection, the brand also photographed the fashion line on six inspiring LGBTQ+ individuals from across the globe. Besides the range of colorful, on-trend fits, you can also customize your Pride gear online on Levi’s website.
Levi’s Pride Collection
9. Under Armour
Under Armour’s Pride collection is more than just rainbow logos — it was designed with UA Unified, a group of LGBTQ teammates and allies who advise and advocate for all athletes at Under Armour. The gear in their Pride line, from tanks to leggings, shoes and more, were all built to function as serious workout gear, helping you run faster and train harder.
The proceeds will go to help fund grants and programs that support the LGBTQ+ community, but the Baltimore-based brand also regularly partners with local organizations, this year supporting the Pride Center of Maryland (as well as Unmatched Athlete, Rainbow Labs, and Sydney WorldPride to promote equality in sports worldwide). Even though they’re not LGBTQ-owned, they’re a model example of Pride-themed merch from a bigger brand made by the community, for the community.
This month, if you join the UA MapMyRun Challenge and finish a series of 12 workouts (one to unlock each color of the Pride Progress Flag), you can also win 25% off your next Under Armour order.
JanSport Bag Collection
10. Adidas
This Pride month has been a big win for inclusive athletic lines, and Adidas is no different. This June, the retailer is making sure all athletes feels represented this month, offering an exclusive line of vibrant street styles and sporty apparel in collaboration with queer South African designer Rich Mnisi. This year’s Adidas Pride collection is aimed at promoting visibility to the many voices of the LGBTQ community in sports.
Adidas is partnering with Athlete Ally, a foundation focused on ending homophobia and transphobia in sports, and Stonewall UK, who has spent the last 30 years working to transform the lives of many in the LGBTQ community. Prices for the collection start at $15, and includes bold graphics, colorful jerseys and more.
Adidas Pride Collection
11. Casetify
We also love to see brands that not only put their money where their mouth is, but support the work of LGBTQ artists. Casetify’s Pride Collection features designs from LGBTQ artists who use their platform to uplift the voices of other LGBTQ creatives.
Casetify is partnering with The Laurel Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides education and support programs for children and families living with HIV/Aids and transgender youth, and will donate $5 for every purchase of their Pride Cases. The cases all have unique designs (including designs with pronouns, and rainbow-inspired art), and come with an all-new rainbow camera ring.
Casetify Pride Collection
12. Dr. Martens
No matter how you celebrate Pride this year, whether you’re packed in at a parade or just chilling at a bar with close friends, chances are you’re going to need some sweet kicks as part of your Pride fit. Dr. Martens, who has some of our favorite footwear for festivals, has launched a small but funky capsule of limited-edition versions of their best-selling shoes for Pride.
Dr. Martens commissioned two artists, illustrator Loveis Wise, as well as Japanese artist and zine creator Fuyuki Kanai, to create two pairs of gender-neutral shoes for adults. The third design is a rainbow riff on the classic 1461 Oxfords, as well as matching styles for kids and toddlers. The brand has also once again pledged a donation to The Trevor Project to support LGBTQ youth mental health services.
Dr. Martens Pride Collection
13. Ralph Lauren
High-fashion tends to keep their designs subtle for Pride month, but sometimes less is more. Ralph Lauren’s Pride collection this year is less of a rainbow capsule, and more of a reflection of what members of the community are actually wearing trend-wise right now.
Ralph Lauren’s Pride campaign this year includes a series of interviews with luminaries of the community, exploring the complex history of Pride and how it intersects (or doesn’t) with the American Dream. The collection is actually made of RL wardrobe picks from the campaign interviewees, including the iconic Mesh Polo Shirt and the Custom Fit Denim Shirt.
The retailer is also making a donation to the Stonewall Community Foundation, who support the most at-risk members of the LGBTQ community, including communities of color and transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary people.
Ralph Lauren Pride Collection
14. The North Face
The North Face has been up against a lot in response to their “Summer of Pride” campaign this year, from right-wing backlash online, to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene calling for a boycott of the collection for featuring a drag queen as a spokesperson. But the outdoor apparel brand isn’t slouching on being allies themselves, standing strong against criticism with a response from their parent company VF Corporation: “[North Face] has always believed the outdoors should be a welcoming, equitable and safe place for all.”
This year, The North Face’s expansive Pride Month capsule collection includes brand-new rainbow gradient jackets, shorts, shoes and more, many with the logo “Outdoors Together”. They’re also partnering Brave Trails, a national non-profit dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth leadership, and YouthSeen, a Colorado-based organization that supports BIPOC queer and trans communities.
The North Face Pride Collection
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