REAL BODIES
FINDING HOME WITHIN
A combination of fashion and community has helped Anairin Kaines find themselves and celebrate who they are with the rest of the world. Here they tell Attitude about his fashion choices and what inspires them
As told to Alastair James Anairin Kaines
ACTIVE WEAR IT WELL: Fashion is a form of empowerment for Anairin
Photography Francisco Gomez de Villaboa
“I’ve always wanted to go against the grain and express myself how I please”
I’ve been dressing up since I was a toddler — picking fabrics and trying on my nan’s shoes always made me feel free. I guess I’ve been chasing that since childhood: that freedom to be — and to wear — whatever I want because that’s my choice. That hasn’t ever changed. I’ve always wanted to go against the grain and express myself how I please.
Clothing is literally everyone’s first form of self-expression, I think. The way we dress is how we all want to be seen and what we wear puts us in a box, whether we like it or not. But we get to decide which one we want to be in, which is fab! But as someone who hates boxes, I’m constantly trying to jump around and be whatever I feel on any given day and fashion is so good for that.