In September, prolific brand Pyer Moss helmed by Kerby Jean-Raymond launched ‘Exist to Resist’ – a platform that champions and brings attention to social justice organizations across the globe. Now, the brand has taken it a step further. In honor of International Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20 – an international day to honor those who are part of the transgender community and are no longer with us – Jean-Raymond has partnered with the Marsha P. Johnson Institute.
The Institute is a non-profit organization based on the legacy of the late Marsha P. Johnson, a transgender activist, self-identified drag queen, performer, and survivor. The organization has been created in her honor to protect and defend the human rights of Black transgender people by organizing, advocating, creating an intentional community to heal, develop transformative leadership, and promote the collective power of Black transgender people.
The fashion brand and charitable organization have collaborated to produce a graphic t-shirt with the Pyer Moss label and the platform’s name, ‘Exist to Resist’ on the front of the shirt. ‘The Marsha P. Johnson Institute’ is embroidered on one of the sleeves, and the back of the shirt is printed with an iconic image of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera marching during the Stonewall Riots, alongside the words ‘Legendary’ and ‘THE CATEGORY IS ALIVE’ which references Johnson’s work for gay liberation and the LGBTQI+ community.
“A part of our role as creatives in this world is to observe and listen to those who are identifying and challenging the ills that plague our present and our future. The Marsha P. Johnson Institute stood out to us as an organization that is protecting and defending the basic human rights of Black transgender people and we see it as our job to support them and amplify their voices rather than speak for them.” Jean-Raymond said in a press release on the collaboration.
The collaborative T-shirt went on sale on November 21 and is available to purchase via the Pyer Moss website. All of the proceeds from the sale of the shirt will be donated to the Marsha P. Johnson Institute.
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