This shop is helping trans and non-binary people in London access safe chest binders

When Victor Feunekes first started looking into chest binding, there weren't any places in London that sold binders or that offered information on how to use them safely.

"I had to look online. I ended up ordering one from Taiwan," Feunekes said.

It took some trial and error (and a lot of Googling), but Feunekes eventually figured out what worked best for their body.

These days, there are more resources in London for transgender and non-binary people who are interested in chest binding as a way to express their gender identity.

What is a binder?

"A binder is a garment of clothing that compresses the chest. So the point of wearing one would be experiencing one's own preferred gender identity in a more visible way," explained Kass Fisher, a student at H.B. Beal Secondary School who has been binding for three years.

Binders come in different styles and can look like a full-length or a cropped tank top, Fisher explained. 

"When you're wearing a binder, it feels sort of like you're wearing a very, very tight shirt," Fisher said. "Instead of being just an article of clothing that's lying over everything, it's keeping everything secure and keeping everything sort of packed down."

Fisher's binding experience started at Spot of Delight, a sexual health store in downtown London that sells binders and other gender expression products.

Two years ago, the shop started a binder exchange program to help make the garments more accessible. 

Accessible binding

"It began out of need," said Jess Rueger, the community development coordinator for Spot of Delight. 

"At that point, we were assisting people in need by giving discounts where necessary and then we saw an obvious need to start a program that would accommodate people who needed accommodation, but with some more support from the community in the form of donating old or used binders."

The shop has since hosted five binder exchange parties where people can socialize and pick up a binder for free.

"We connect them with community professionals who can refer to resources. We also connect them with peers who have lived experience with chest binding," Rueger explained.

Safety first

Chest binding can cause pain or discomfort if done incorrectly or for too long, so safety is another focus of the program. 

Spot of Delight offers tips for safer binding, like not wearing a binder overnight and not layering or "doubling binding."

Feunekes said the binder exchange program helps ensure people have access to safe binding options.

"I remember paying around $50 to $75 for mine," Feunekes said. "It can add up, they're pretty expensive and if people don't have binders available, then it's more likely they'll resort to a lot less safe binding methods like bandages."

For many people, being able to present as the gender identity they wish is incredibly valuable, Fisher said. 

"Since I've started binding, I've experienced a whole bunch more confidence in myself, and a lot more confidence in the way I hold myself and the way I talk to people," Fisher said.

"It's overwhelmingly positive."