The Power of a Thread
A Transform client
(L to R): Transform's founders, Nancy Dawson, Ella Dastillung and Tristan Vaught
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At the heart of Transform is a single, uncomplicated goal: give clothes to kids who need them. Dawson, whose youngest daughter Phoebe came out as trans when she was 10, knows the unique ordeal of trying to secure an entirely new wardrobe on a family budget. “She still doesn’t know her style,” Dawson says of her daughter, who is now 15. “Teenagers alone go through many style evolutions. So you’re already flighty as hell, ‘cause you’re teenagers and you’ve been in the closet for 11 years.” Plus, “you’re like fully programmed to hate whatever your mom likes.” Luckily, older sister Ella has plenty of clothes to steal while she figures out her fashion sensibilities — likely evidence that teenage sisters are about the same everywhere, cis or transgender be damned. Not all kids can snag shirts from siblings’ closets, of course. That’s where Transform steps in. “For these trans kids, (Transform has) a wardrobe full of clothes that match their assigned sex,” World says. “Even if their parents are supportive, most people don’t have the income to be able to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe.” The clothing and styling sessions are free, which means that Transform relies entirely on donations and volunteer help to stock their shelves. Weekly volunteer sessions are reserved for organizing donations. Some arrive as deliveries of gently used clothing, while other supplies come from donated purchases off their Amazon wishlist and special buying trips for items in greater demand like binders and new, gender-neutral shoes. Luckily, the number of donations is in no short supply; Transform has even had to temporarily close donations for certain items due to the surplus, but they regularly post about what they’re currently accepting on Facebook. Prospective clients fill out a form detailing everything from their gender expression to style preferences and clothing sizes. Then, a teenage stylist or two (frequently Dastillung or Reed, but there are a handful of other teens who volunteer their services) will hand-select items from Transform’s vast collection for clients to try out at their appointment.
MARCH 18-31, 2020
Wren, a Transform volunteer
After Reed, Transform’s second client was a teenager who drove three hours with her mom to make her appointment. Neither of them had ever met another trans person before. Most clients are 13 or above, although the youngest so far was 8. The younger kids are some of Dastillung’s favorites. Unlike the mellow, mild-mannered teens, the little ones rush in with unbridled enthusiasm, cycling through quick changes fashion-show style. Transform also offers a relief from the anxietyinducing experience that is shopping in public. When Reed first transitioned, he had fears about shopping in the men’s section at stores. Vaught, who is nonbinary and identifies as genderqueer, shares the same concerns as an adult. “I hate to go shopping,” they say, “because I’m like, ‘Do I go in the men’s changing room? Do I go in the women’s changing room? Do I drag all of these clothes that I’ve just gotten in the men’s section over to the women’s changing room just so someone can harass me while I’m in there?' ” With a private changing area and individualized styling — where there are no gendered sections or prying eyes — clients can “shop” free of judgement and limitations, while also getting clothing advice and learning what cuts and styles of clothing look best on them, a task that takes a fair amount of time for anyone, no matter their gender. Vaught has particularly good intel on where to get men’s pants for wider hips (Old Navy’s men’s jeans and the Goodfellow & Co brand at Target are the best) and Reed created a guide for first-time binder wearers (make sure it’s not too small and don’t sleep in it unless you want to risk cracked ribs). The styling appointments are intertwined with vital support and affirmation for the young people who step through Transform’s doors. “Transgender teens need some type of support system, some type of adult guidance, whether it be a teacher or parent or somebody who accepts and supports them,” Reed says. “That’s so controversial. It shouldn’t be but it is.”
