So, maybe it’s just me. Maybe I have to accept the fact that I am pretty conservative deep down in my heart. Or that I am not tolerant enough to accept the fact that some guys make up the term meggings – leggings for men - and really came up with a leggings, sorry 'meggings' collection for men.
But even when I think leggings should exclusively be worn by women – with the exception of ballet dancers – maybe I have to accept the fact that there is no such thing like gender exclusivity in fashion. Didn’t women take advantage of men’s closets for decades? The boyfriend jeans, the suit, the oversized shirt, loafers… so isn’t it just fair that men discover their feminine side and wear leggings or whatever they like to wear from ‘our’ closet without being judged?
Australian brothers Ben and Jordan Barnett created their brand Kapow Meggings in 2015 when they noticed a change in festival and party wear. Suddenly it seemed that guys are putting as much effort into their outfits as girls. The Burning Man – the famous desert festival in Nevada – marked the tipping point when they saw thousands of men wearing women’s leggings.
What started as a small brand with just 6 designs quickly became a global phenomenon. Kapow Meggings expanded outside of the UK (where Jordan Barnett was based at that time), developing hubs in the USA and Australia. Successful collaborations with e.g. UK’s biggest regional wrestling competition or sponsoring LA based acrobat and aerial skills instructor at Cirque Mirage, Matthew Armenta- are just some of Kapow Meggings success stories.
One thing the Barnett brothers love about what Kapow is trying to do as a brand is, in some way, help redefine masculinity in society. To incite controversy and open a wider conversation about the barriers and limitations of what it means to be a man in today’s world. A quote from their website states: “We want to help build and foster the growing community of people confident enough in their own masculinity to wear whatever the hell they want. To encourage those that think gender stereotype isn’t defined by things like clothing, and embrace the polarising and controversial nature of men’s leggings. Whether it’s the guy at Burning Man wearing them for a bit of fun, the guy on the street making a statement, or the guy at the gym being a bit more adventurous in his active-wear, they’ve all bought into the progression of masculinity – the reshaping and re-setting of how clothes fit into the modern lifestyle.”
And last but not least Justin Bieber was spotted wearing leggings – and if this is a fact it can just be a matter of time until we will spot some tight pairs at big retail chains.
However spotting men in the gym, doing yoga in leggings will be no problem for me – seeing them in leggings at the office or on the street will definitely make me gasp for breath.
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