On May 9, Chicago-based designer Letesha Renee will release the first part of the fifth collection for her label Eugene Taylor Brand. Both fashion-forward and forward thinking, Tesha has created the #SideXSide collection to be entirely unisex. For Tesha, #SideXSide is a personal reflection on what it means to be equal.

“Equality isn’t about men versus women,” the designer said “it’s about working together.”

The collection consists of more than thirty unique pieces, divided into three separate lines. The first line, available May 9, includes garments such as hoodies, jumpsuits, dresses, which can be worn by anyone regardless of gender. Many personal touches appear throughout this line, such embroidered hemlines and necklines on pullovers, and hand-painted t-shirts featuring the designer’s favorite Jimi Hendrix quotes. The word “equality” can be found on the back neckline of one color-block pullover, Tesha’s way of saying that the struggle for equality affects all of us.

“Men and women hold the same issues on their back,” Tesha said “people as a whole can hold the same issues on their back and get through it together.”

Tesha’s use of color blocking, blending different materials, and incorporating strong colors are meant to symbolize her call for us to work together and create progress.

Eugene Taylor Brand was founded in 2014, and Tesha has been creating and releasing collections since. She has designed custom pieces for many prominent Chicago artists, such as Peter Cottontale, Eryn Allen Kane, Nico Segal, Telana, Stefan Ponce, Grace Weber, and Jamila Wood. Most recently, the producer Peter Cottontale wore custom Eugene Taylor Brand to the 2017 Grammys.

But for Eugene Taylor Brand, it’s not just about the red carpets. Tesha hopes that #SideXSide will bring people together and inspire others to collaborate, advance, and achieve. Fashion may sometimes get a bad reputation for not being socially responsible, but designers like Letesha Renee are challenging that stereotype, one collection at a time.

For more Eugene Taylor visit their website eugenetaylorbrand.com