METCHA | the oracle of leather design culture.

METCHA | A global initiative aimed at taking leather-oriented stories into the spotlight to reflect today's generation's view of design and culture.

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“Clothes never define a person [..] I can, you can be whoever you want to be yet still being yourself.”

The gen Z proving that the future of style is non-binary.

Style, like any form of culture, has a controversial path, but being a creative area, there is always a chance to evolve. And fortunately, gen Z has actively participated in this evolution, showing the industry that they reject any kind of labels. 🎯

‘For boys’ and ‘for girls’ have shaped the style for a long time, but this is coming to an end. According to the Sourcing Journal, about 60% of zeeners stray far from the sections divided by gender, proving that the future of style is definitely non-binary.

METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a woman wearing a caramel leather coat and a white leather boot

METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a man wearing caramel leather coat with a caramel leather pants — METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a man wearing a caramel leather coat with caramel leather pants

“Clothes never define a person, I feel like when clothes aren’t gendered it allows the stripping of appearance and the deception and it also allows you to change shape and become invisible and visible whenever you feel like it.”

“I can, you can be whoever you want to be yet still being yourself.”

Nadine, creative, co-owner of Only Thrift's, and also known for sharing clothes with her boyfriend Leago Scars, told us.

METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a woman wearing a black leather jacket and a black leather pants

“I’ve never conformed to gender in fashion, it was nothing really deep at first, I just liked women's clothing more”, completed Leago.

METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a man wearing black leather pants

In addition to this new point of view, this generation has brought back a way of shopping that combines it with the search for pieces that reject old standards. Of course we can look for something totally unique with the big brands and the rising creatives, but thrift shops have always been here.

METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a man wearing a caramel leather coat and a caramel leather pants

And in this lifestyle of searching and finding one-of-a-kind pieces, gen Z is not only the majority, they have generated a digital transformation in this market. You no longer need to go on a treasure hunt at various stores and let a '70s leather jacket escape your eyes, because now it's probably cataloged on some website or Instagram.

METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a couple with a man wearing a black leather coat

With Leago Scars and Nadine, we chatted about these positive consumer changes that are good for the planet and people. Only Thrift's owners are living proof that with the right drips, anyone with any pronoun can look bold. Keep reading. 👇

METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a couple wearing a black leather coat with a Prada black bucket hat

Have you always been consumers of thrift shops? What made you guys start your own business?

L: My grandma used to sell 2nd hand clothes, so I grew up wearing that before I even knew the word thrift.

“We started our business when we saw a growing demand in sustainable fashion, because fashion is the 2nd largest contributor to carbon emissions after oil.”

We also saw a growing interest in vintage clothing in the youth. The only problem was accessibility, and that's when the light bulb lit.

N: I feel like yes because from a kid I used to turn my old clothes into new outfits, always into reusing, but I wasn’t aware of thrift stores and it wasn’t very mobile or near me at the time. We also know fashion has been recycled over and over again and still is but we express it in our own way so, why not do the same with clothes?

METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a man wearing a burgundy leather pants with a burgundy leather coat

METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a woman wearing a burgundy leather pants

What is the process to find such authentic pieces? We have to say, your leather finds make any stylist jealous.

L: Finding authentic pieces is sometimes super simple, cause you can easily distinguish between real and fake but these days, counterfeits are really good quality to the point where you can’t even tell. But through my in depth research I know how to authenticate most brands.

METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a man wearing a black leather moccasin

METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a man wearing a black leather shoes

METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a man wearing a black suede shoes and a black leather jacket

N: When finding it, it stands out, it catches your eyes and then you start dressing yourself with the colours and the textures of the item and you put it together so perfectly with other authentic pieces that catch your eye.

“You just know, everyone’s authenticity is different.”

So, when something catches your eyes and a million ideas and creativity sparks up inside of you, you’ve found your authentic piece.

Fortunately, this gen and the next ones are leaving binarism in the past and just enjoying all the possibilities that fashion has to offer. What are the pieces from opposite extremes that you like to mix the most?

L: I looove pleat skirts, I actually feel like they look way better on men, and mesh tops are also awesome, I derive a lot from Punk culture and have always appreciated how good they look on the male body.

METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a man wearing a pink mid skirt with a beige leather bag

N: Exactly, there’s a lot of possibilities in everything. We don’t need to categorise things all the time, I have very androgynous features so I can pull off very masculine looks and feminine looks, I balance it out.

“But I love leather looks, it kinda expresses both of these features.”

METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a woman wearing a burgundy leather pants and a burgundy leather jacket

What is the main tip to consume consciously and not want to keep everything you find?

L: I used to live in tiny apartments in the city and that taught me to use my space wisely. It encouraged me to resell pieces I no longer need, and if I can sell a piece to someone and stop them from needing to buy a brand new piece at the shop then I have helped them reduce the need to consume fast fashion.

“If everyone normalized a culture of trading pieces and sharing and recycling fashion, we’d drastically reduce the plague of fast fashion.”

N: I think it’s important to train yourself not to get attached when you see this item, yes it’s hot but it can be hot for the moment, because the next few days you’re over that fit and that’s how we are as humans we get bored of clothes. So it sits hoarded and we complain “we have no clothes” to a cupboard full of clothes that can be resold, so enjoy things as in now and resell, trade, or create something entirely new and you can sell that again.

To close, Leago, what is your current treasure piece? And Nadine, what is your current treasure piece?

L: My favourite archive is my brown gigantic Moncler puffer, the colour is so perfect and I love how big it is, perfect for winter and it's such a statement.

METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a man wearing a caramel leather puffer coat

METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a woman wearing a caramel leather puffer coat

N: This always changes because I usually grow out of things, but currently it’s a green coat, I love the colour mostly and the details of the buttons. It's so subtle yet out there just like me, but this might change again lol.

METCHA - gen Z - future of style - non binary style - a woman wearing a green leather bag and a black leather shoes

We are SO ready to see everyone express themselves however they want.

And now please go meet Sheron Barber's non-binary geniuses.

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