WHAT DO THE TERMS ‘TRANSGENDER’ AND ‘GENDER NONCONFORMING’ MEAN?

Transgender, or trans, is an umbrella term to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth. Gender nonconforming, or GNC, is behaviour or gender expression by an individual that does not match traditional masculine or feminine gender norms.

CAN ANYONE ORDER A BESPOKE SUIT?

Yes, our bespoke tailoring service is open to all. If you would like to order a tailored garment and are keen to create a positive social impact through your purchase, then consider ‘buying social’ by contacting us here.

WHY IS TAILORING FOR TRANS OR GNC PEOPLE IMPORTANT?

The beneficiaries of our queer tailoring service are individuals who are encountering financial insecurity, and who would otherwise find it difficult to access vital gender-affirming clothing. Our queer tailoring encourages individuals to express their gender by providing them with clothing designed and cut to reflect their identities, thus enabling them to feel gender euphoric. To understand more about the life-threatening difficulties our beneficiaries often face, and the positive mental health impact our garments can have, please click here.

WHY MIGHT A QUEER PERSON NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AT UNIVERSITY?

For trans and GNC individuals, a lack of support from family members, and discrimination/harassment faced at university can have a significant negative impact on their studies. The strain they can experience leaves them at higher risk of underperforming on - or altogether abandoning - their higher education programs. To learn more about the struggles LGBTQI+ students face, and how our paid internship scheme can help, please click here.

ARE YOU A CHARITY?

No, charities fund their work primarily through donations and fundraising. As a social enterprise, we generate the majority of our funds by selling a product. Hors Sujet is set up under a CIC (Community Interest Company) business structure.

WHAT IS A CIC/SOCIAL ENTERPRISE?

A social enterprise is an independent business with a social mission. It earns more than half of its income through trading, is controlled or owned in the interests of its social mission, reinvests or gives away at least half of its profits or surpluses towards its social purpose, and is transparent about how it operates and the impact it has.

A CIC (Community Interest Company) is a special type of limited company which exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders. Given the nature of community interest companies, it’s necessary that they’re regulated to ensure that they operate in the interest of the community. Every year, they must file an Annual Report with the CIC Regulator that explains how they are achieving their social goals and engaging with their stakeholders.

IS YOUR WORK REGULATED AT ALL?

As a member of SEUK (Social Enterprise UK) , the national body for organisations with a social mission, we are a “certified social enterprise”. By Meeting SEUK’s requirements for membership, and operating transparently, we have committed ourselves to delivering our social mission. Please click here for further information.

As a Community Interest Company, we are also monitored by the CIC Regulator to ensure that we operate in the interest of the community. Every year, we must file an Annual Report with them that explains how we’re achieving our social goals and engaging with our stakeholders.

HOW DO YOU FUND YOUR COMMUNITY PROJECTS?

We fund our community projects through a combination of bespoke tailoring commissions, sponsorships and donations.

In accordance with the guidelines set out by SEUK, at least half of the profits generated through our bespoke suit commissions pay for the salaries of our queer interns and the materials for our queer tailoring.

All of the money raised through our donation campaigns is dedicated to specified LGBTQI+ causes.