A Lush staff member told City News that the binders had been so popular, that they are currently sold out.
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Lush has come under fire for its new chest binding collection service, set up in collaboration with the charity G(end)er Swap.
Customers can order the chest binders online, and collect them in the Paddington Station store in exchange for a £7 donation to G(end)er Swap.
G(end)er Swap is a support initiative and awareness campaign that educates on gender diversity through the medium of fashion. They also work with mainstream retailers to be more gender inclusive and trans friendly.
A chest binder is an item of clothing used by trans-masculine people to compress breast tissue. It gives the appearance of a flat chest and a more ‘masculinising’ body shape.
An article in The Daily Mail claimed that Lush were selling the chest binders without age verification. But Santi Sorrenti, the founder of G(end)er Swap, denies this.
“It’s made clear on the application form that the outreach service is for folks who are 16 and over,” they told City News.
The charity “is not supplying to young kids, even with parental consent,” they continued.
Lush had previously used G(end)er Swap as a partner for their ‘charity pot’ scheme.
Physical risks and mental health benefits
Twitter users have cited the health risks of chest binding, calling it “dangerous” and “self-harm”. Chest binding can lead to back pain, overheating, chest pain and shortness of breath. But Mr Sorrenti said there is only a “a risk attached to the misuse of chest binders”.
Guidelines suggest users of chest binders should only wear them for up to eight hours a day. They should also take regular breaks from wearing them, and not sleep or exercise in them.
Mr Sorrenti also told City News that by “providing a professionally designed product backed up by online safety advice, G(end)er Swap are able to minimise any risks to users”.
The US National Centre for Biotechnology Information also says that chest binding has “substantial mental health and safety benefits”.
G(end)er Swap have provided close to 300 binders UK wide in the past year and a half.
‘A binder could save your life’
Cameron, who is trans/non-binary, praised the Lush scheme.
“If you don’t move through the world experiencing dysphoria, then you don’t understand the importance of being able to walk into a mainstream shop and get a binder that could save your life,” they said.
A recent study by Stonewall found that almost half of trans people had thought about taking their life. Cameron said that wearing a chest binder decreased the gender dysphoria they felt, and made them feel more comfortable in their body.
Furthermore, Cameron told City News chest binders often cost “in excess of £30” and praised the “inexpensive” Lush price of £7. G(end)er Swap have supplied a number of binders to isolated or low-income transgender people.
Submitted Article
HeadlineLush in Paddington Station under fire for new chest binder collection service
Short HeadlineLush under fire for selling chest binders
StandfirstSeveral media publications and anti-transgender groups have criticised the cosmetics retailer for selling chest binders to its transgender customers.
Published Article
HeadlineLush in Paddington Station under fire for new chest binder collection service
Short HeadlineLush under fire for selling chest binders
StandfirstSeveral media publications and anti-transgender groups have criticised the cosmetics retailer for selling chest binders to its transgender customers.
Lush has come under fire for its new chest binding collection service, set up in collaboration with the charity G(end)er Swap.
Customers can order the chest binders online, and collect them in the Paddington Station store in exchange for a £7 donation to G(end)er Swap.
G(end)er Swap are a support initiative and awareness campaign that educates on gender diversity through the medium of fashion. They also work with mainstream retailers to be more gender inclusive and trans friendly.
A chest binder is an item of clothing used by trans-masculine people to compress breast tissue. It gives the appearance of a flat chest and a more ‘masculinising’ body shape.
An article in The Daily Mail claimed that Lush were selling the chest binders without age verification. But Santi Sorrenti, the founder of G(end)er Swap, denies this.
“It’s made clear on the application form that the outreach service is for folks who are 16 and over,” they told City News.
The charity “is not supplying to young kids, even with parental consent,” they continued.
Lush had previously used G(end)er Swap as a partner for their ‘charity pot’ scheme.
Physical risks and mental health benefits
Twitter users have cited the health risks of chest binding, calling it “dangerous” and “self-harm”. Chest binding can lead to back pain, overheating, chest pain and shortness of breath. But Mr Sorrenti said there is only a “a risk attached to the misuse of chest binders”.
Guidelines suggest users of chest binders should only wear them for up to eight hours a day. They should also take regular breaks from wearing them, and not sleep or exercise in them.
Mr Sorrenti also told City News that by “providing a professionally designed product backed up by online safety advice, G(end)er Swap are able to minimise any risks to users”.
The US National Centre for Biotechnology Information also says that chest binding has “substantial mental health and safety benefits”.
G(end)er Swap have provided close to 300 binders UK wide in the past year and a half.
“A binder could save your life”
Cameron, who is trans/non-binary, praised the Lush scheme.
“If you don’t move through the world experiencing dysphoria, then you don’t understand the importance of being able to walk into a mainstream shop and get a binder that could save your life,” they said.
A recent study by Stonewall found that almost half of trans people had thought about taking their life. Cameron said that wearing a chest binder decreased the gender dysphoria they felt, and made them feel more comfortable in their body.
Furthermore, Cameron told City News chest binders often cost “in excess of £30” and praised the “inexpensive” Lush price of £7. G(end)er Swap have supplied a number of binders to isolated or low-income transgender people.
Lush has come under fire for its new chest binding collection service, set up in collaboration with the charity G(end)er Swap.
Customers can order the chest binders online, and collect them in the Paddington Station store in exchange for a £7 donation to G(end)er Swap.
G(end)er Swap is a support initiative and awareness campaign that educates on gender diversity through the medium of fashion. They also work with mainstream retailers to be more gender inclusive and trans friendly.
A chest binder is an item of clothing used by trans-masculine people to compress breast tissue. It gives the appearance of a flat chest and a more ‘masculinising’ body shape.
An article in The Daily Mail claimed that Lush were selling the chest binders without age verification. But Santi Sorrenti, the founder of G(end)er Swap, denies this.
“It’s made clear on the application form that the outreach service is for folks who are 16 and over,” they told City News.
The charity “is not supplying to young kids, even with parental consent,” they continued.
Lush had previously used G(end)er Swap as a partner for their ‘charity pot’ scheme.
Physical risks and mental health benefits
Twitter users have cited the health risks of chest binding, calling it “dangerous” and “self-harm”. Chest binding can lead to back pain, overheating, chest pain and shortness of breath. But Mr Sorrenti said there is only a “a risk attached to the misuse of chest binders”.
Guidelines suggest users of chest binders should only wear them for up to eight hours a day. They should also take regular breaks from wearing them, and not sleep or exercise in them.
Mr Sorrenti also told City News that by “providing a professionally designed product backed up by online safety advice, G(end)er Swap are able to minimise any risks to users”.
The US National Centre for Biotechnology Information also says that chest binding has “substantial mental health and safety benefits”.
G(end)er Swap have provided close to 300 binders UK wide in the past year and a half.
‘A binder could save your life’
Cameron, who is trans/non-binary, praised the Lush scheme.
“If you don’t move through the world experiencing dysphoria, then you don’t understand the importance of being able to walk into a mainstream shop and get a binder that could save your life,” they said.
A recent study by Stonewall found that almost half of trans people had thought about taking their life. Cameron said that wearing a chest binder decreased the gender dysphoria they felt, and made them feel more comfortable in their body.
Furthermore, Cameron told City News chest binders often cost “in excess of £30” and praised the “inexpensive” Lush price of £7. G(end)er Swap have supplied a number of binders to isolated or low-income transgender people.
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