The Forgotten Frontier

The Forgotten frontier is a collection exploring the history of transgender men. Through collecting archived newspaper clippings, I discovered the existence of individuals who transgressed gender norms in the late 19th century America. Specifically, ‘women’ who publicly identified as men and lived in the clothes of cowboys, outlaws and soldiers. I wanted to use this research to recreate the known narrative of the ‘Wild West’, a place which is so valued for its cisgender/ heterosexual male heroes. The collection amplifies the queer stories of the brave and ruthless individuals who would be known today as transgender men. The fabrication and design of my garments pays close attention to the details and functionality of authentic Western attire. Through rigorous exploration of shape and silhouette I have explored the relationship of fabric and body, an integral part of a collection honouring trans bodies.