Creating Connection: Inside Our First Gender-Diverse Community Day

We’ve just wrapped up Origami Customs’ first-ever Gender-Diverse Community Day, and honestly, it exceeded every expectation we had. When I first started imagining this event, I never thought it would run so smoothly or have such a deep impact. But we witnessed the true spirit of community in action—something that’s at the very core of our business.

For those of you who joined us last year for our Fashion Week open house, you might remember it as an intimate chance to see our studio, meet the team, and try on some of our custom pieces. While we loved having you then, this year we wanted to do something bigger, something with a greater impact on our gender-diverse community. That’s how the idea for Community Day was born.

We partnered with three incredible organizations—PIaMP, Gender Creative Kids, and the Centre for Gender Advocacy—to create a day packed with free resources, support, workshops, and food and drinks! I knew it had to be more than just an open house; this needed to be a full-fledged day of community support.

The Vision Behind Community Day

My original idea for our Fashion Week event was similar to what we did last year – a day where you could come and see where things were made, meet some of the people involved, try things on, have free food, and drink, and generally get to know more about who we are and what we do. 

But as I thought more about what fashion means for me this year, it became clear that the importance of our work right now isn’t just about the clothes. We’re living in a time where it’s harder than ever to be a trans person, so I knew that I wanted to make it more about community support and creating access to available TDG resources. 

I wanted ​​everything about Community Day to be rooted in the principle of our business – providing gender-affirming resources, even if that means giving them away. So I started to think about how I could create a space that gave people what they truly needed- whether that was support, resources, or just a chance to feel seen. 

Finding Partners

When I mentioned it to my friend Sam who is the co-coordinator of PIaMP, she automatically said “You should host it at PIaMP!” Even though Sam had never directly worked with us before, we knew a lot about each other and have overlapped in many different ways across the community spheres for many years. PIaMP primarily works to support people in the sex trade, which also means that the majority of their clients are trans or gender diverse. It just made sense that we both wanted to do the same thing, from different angles.

From there I started reaching out to other partner organizations who are already carrying our products (and giving them away for free!). The Center for Gender Advocacy and Gender Creative Kids quickly jumped on board, providing resources and time to help me pull this off. All of their staff was amazing, from coming up with programming to offering their time and resources to make this a reality. They reached out to food and drink sponsors and secured a full falafel vegan meal for 100 people courtesy of Nilufar, Gutsy kombucha, and Maison Cocktail mocktail mixers.

Thanks to our wonderful partners, we hosted an event that brought folks together to access services, connect with each other, and discover the wealth of support available to the transgender and gender-diverse communities in Montreal. It wasn’t just about showcasing our work—it was about creating a space where people could access free resources and, most importantly, a sense of belonging.

A Day of Inclusivity and Support

The day was filled with activities that ran throughout, and the turnout was beyond what we’d hoped for. I couldn’t believe how many people came! People found the event through the organizations, through friends, some people who knew about it through us, and lots of people were already accessing services at PIaMP and just happened to be there. I overheard someone say, “My friend told me to come, because it’s gonna be really gay. So I came! “

From pay-what-you-can haircuts by the amazing Gnomile to free gender gear courtesy of the Centre for Gender Advocacy, there was something for everyone. We set up workshops on binding, tucking, and transtape, and honestly, the energy in those rooms was incredible. The workshops empowered people, showing them practical ways to affirm their gender in safe and comfortable ways.

The day was so full of joyful, playful moments. People were trying on things from the free closet, strutting around in heels, some for the first time, some for their hundredth. Outside in the alley, there were plates piled high with food, and folks were chatting, laughing, and just enjoying the space we had created. It wasn’t just an event—it felt like a family gathering.

The inclusion of children through things like kids’ storytime and Gender Creative Kids was a heartwarming touch. Having the young ones there is always so special to me, and seeing the dedication and openness that the parents show is something that I never really put into words. 

I even got to take measurements for a nine-year-old who was getting her first gaff! 22 inches around the hips! We’ve been able to make gaffs that small on occasion before, but being able to interact with that child and be a part of her experience was really touching for me. She even lost one of her baby teeth while we were there!  

Connecting with the Community

When I imagined a Community Day, what I most wanted was to be able to talk one-on-one with Origami Customs clients that I don’t see in person. We’re based online and have just a private studio, and while we love making custom garments for people all over the world, we rarely get to meet them in person. Community Day gave me that opportunity, and I cherished every conversation.

One of the highlights for me was talking with each person about our garments, what their experience has been like with gender-affirming gear, what brands they’ve tried, and what their hopes are in their gender journey. It was amazing to be able to offer free fittings, and it reiterated to me how challenging it can be for people to take the step on their own. I didn’t realize just how much of a barrier having to size yourself can be to purchasing, not just for our custom garments, but really using any size chart.

One moment that stood out was a parent and shy teen who came to the booth. The parent was super helpful, and I helped guide them through different binder styles until they found ones to try on. I saw how much of a difference it made to have a supportive parent there to help with what can sometimes be an anxiety-producing scenario. They were so grateful I could offer suggestions, take accurate measurements, and support them through the process of trying something new.

The overwhelming feedback I got when people were looking through the bins of our products, was how different our binders felt. Most people are used to stiff, inflexible binders, but when they tried ours, they loved the range of motion, flexibility, and comfort. I can’t count the number of times I heard, “I’ve never tried on a binder that felt like this. I can breathe!” That’s why being in these spaces matters. We know it's hard when you can’t try on what you want to buy. We love being able to customize sizing, but sometimes you just want to feel the materials and try things on for yourself! 

Collaborations and Media Attention

Photographers were there from MMODE Fashion Week to see and document our event. We got into a wonderful conversation with a fashion student and a rep of MMODE, where they gave us great info about sustainably sourcing end-of-roll lycra for our small swim collections. This is something that we’ve been trying to do, and they let us know about system that’s already in place for fashion design students to help eliminate waste in the fashion industry. 

We also had two students from Concordia’s The Link Magazine who stayed for hours, talking with attendees, taking pictures, and soaking up the vibe of the day. They told me that originally had my brand and wanted to do a feature on Origami Customs, but when they saw the values and ethics in hosting this event for the community, it felt more in alignment to see us doing what we do best – giving back.

Looking Ahead

The feedback from attendees was overwhelming, with everyone agreeing that Community Day needs to be an annual event. It’s clear that these spaces are essential, and we’re already thinking about how we can expand this event—maybe even host something around the holidays when things can feel particularly tough for folks.

What I loved most was seeing how all the organizations we partnered with aligned so naturally with our mission. By bringing these resources together in one place, we made it easier for people to access what they need without the stress of navigating it all on their own. That’s the power of collaboration.

Closing Thoughts

Our first-ever Gender-Diverse Community Day was more than just a success—it blew our expectations out of the water. We are so grateful to everyone who came out, who lent a hand, and who supported this event. It was a reminder that, even in difficult times, our community is strong, and together, we can create spaces where everyone feels seen, supported, and cared for.

We can’t wait to make this an annual tradition. Until then, keep supporting queer and trans organizations, keep connecting, and remember—your voice and presence make a difference.