They say that necessity is the mother of invention. For one father, that proved to be quite true.
Jamie Alexander has been learning a lot while raising his transgender daughter, Ruby. Through her experiences, he's learned to see things in a different light. One of those things is swimwear.
The family was planning a trip to Central America when Ruby shared some hesitations about wearing swimwear in a country that might not have the same level of trans acceptance as parts of the US have. After doing some research, Jamie realized that there was no swimwear or undergarments made to accommodate transgender and nonbinary youth.
Jamie didn't want Ruby to feel uncomfortable during their vacation. He also didn't want other trans girls to miss out on all kinds of activities and experiences for fear of being outed. He worked with Ruby on a solution that's changing the lives of trans and nonbinary youth around the country.
Jamie Alexander wanted his daughter to have the same experience as other girls her age. Ruby was an 11-year-old at the time the family was preparing for a trip to Central America from their hometown of Toronto. Ruby is transgender, so she was concerned how it would be to go to beaches in an area that may not have the same level of acceptance she was used to.
Jamie realized there were no clothing brands out there dedicated to providing swim solutions for young transgender girls. Though he was a tech entrepreneur, he knew he wanted to work on a solution — for his daughter and the many other "gender creative" children out there. So Jamie worked with Ruby to create comfortable swim bottoms that would look like traditional bikinis but provide the padding and support necessary.
The line, named Rubies, now offers the Ruby Shaping Bikini Bottoms in two colors, black and pink. In each package, Ruby, now 13, includes a handwritten note in purple, pink, or teal-blue marker.
"You are strong, brave, and extremely important," she shared as an example of one of the messages she sends.
"Keep being you and don't let anyone bring you down. I am transgender myself and can understand you."
The reviews for the bikini bottoms tell the story of relieved parents and confident transgender girls who are able to keep up with their friends. What's even better, they can do it with comfort and eliminate the fear of accidental outing. The swimwear is stylish, discreet, and a hit.
"'Perfect!' That's what my granddaughter said when she put on her Rubies swimsuit bottom," one reviewer wrote.
"The material, construction and fit is of superior quality, the 'secret' pocket is definitely secret. She also liked the personal touch of the words of encouragement from you. You have made one little girl very happy. Thank you Rubies!"
Since creating the swim bottom, Jamie and Ruby have worked on other products as well. There is currently a one-piece bathing suit and bikini-style underwear available for preorder as they work on even more solutions to help transgender young ladies.
The comfortable clothing will also help empower trans and nonbinary youth in their identities, Mere Abrams, an educator and social worker who focuses on gender and transgender health, explained to The Lily.
"If the swimwear doesn’t fit one’s body and body parts effectively, it can expose someone in a way that feels very, very uncomfortable and distressing," Mere explained.
Mere explained that many youth forgo some of childhood's funnest activities, such as dance classes, pool parties, or joining the swim team, because they are afraid of being outed or uncomfortable with their body being seen.
"They really can’t be fully present and engaged in those activities," Mere noted.
"This isn't just theory. These kids are not comfortable and stop going places and doing things. It's not fair. It's important for all kids to keep active and healthy," Jamie told The Times of Israel in a recent interview.
The next item Jamie and Ruby are hoping to incorporate into the Rubies line is leggings. With support, they're helping so many transgender and nonbinary youth live in their truth.
