The cost of a binder

The binder, and more broadly gender affirmation underwear, are products of first necessity for trans and queer people. They help reduce gender dysphoria and thus improve mental health. This is why their price is an important subject, since it largely impacts accessibility to these underwear.

As these are essential products, we can imagine that these underwear should be covered by social security. We are not yet at that stage of recognizing the needs of trans people.

In fact, clothing to affirm one's gender is not at all covered by social security, even though it is a fairly significant expense. Trans people often have to spend hundreds of euros to be able to update their wardrobe and express the gender they want.

We will explain this graph above point by point:

The taxes : If binders were recognized as essential, the tax would be 5,5%. However, it is not, and therefore, we pay VAT of 20% for the manufacture of these products.

The rent : Thanks to our store in Antony, we can store our products, give our employees a place to work, and welcome you during fittings. We consider it very important for people who are unsure about their purchases to be able to come and see the products in real life and try them.

The making :

Thanks to our local Made-In-France manufacturing, we have:

French manufacturing to guarantee the rights of sewing workshop employees (much more difficult to verify in Asia)
Fair remuneration for these employees
A purchase of raw materials in Europe
Manufacturing of the packaging
Diverse logistics

Concerning employee remuneration:

The founder takes care of the overall management of the company
His right arm helps him and takes care of sending orders
A tailor makes custom orders
A person responsible for creating educational resources
A person responsible for developing the accessibility of products, particularly outside the Paris region

The price of the binder includes a minimal profit margin for the brand, the aim being to offer a binder that is as accessible as possible.

Reducing this price further would amount to closing the company which could no longer meet its incompressible costs, or to not paying the workers who participate in its manufacturing with dignity.

Why can you find cheaper binders online?

This is generally explained by decentralized production in Asia, where working conditions in sewing workshops are disastrous. Manufacturing costs so little that a large profit margin is actually made on these low-cost underwear.

In addition, the binders purchased through these productions are made with low quality raw materials and an unsuitable design. These binders can be dangerous, often causing significant bruising or back pain. Avoid them at all costs!

We know that the cost of an ethical binder remains unattainable for some, with trans people being in a more precarious situation than the average.

This is why we organize: