Casgliadau Arlein

Grey JUYA half-length chest binder, size 'L'.

The donor is a nonbinary person who wears chest binders to flatten their chest. They stated that “This is the first binder I bought in 2013 when I was 18 and newly out. Back then, binders in the UK were pretty sparse and most of the AFAB trans community was online. Getting your hands on a binder was pretty difficult - it was only cosplay binders (aka “lesbian” binders) and sports compression wear. All of those had to be imported from the USA or Asia, and if you needed a stronger one to compress a larger cup size then tough luck! I was recommended this one by a Tumblr user insisting JUYA had the best compression on the market and was reasonably priced. It cost me about £50 plus shipping from Taiwan. Putting it on for the first time and seeing myself flat-chested in the mirror was one of the most euphoric things I’ve ever experienced. Friends were amazed the first time they saw me wearing it, and it really helped me feel like my true self. It got stretched out over time, and I later switched to wearing a full-length binder. Now that we have GC2B and Spectrum, I never see anyone recommend binders like these anymore, which is great because it turns out velcro and hook binders are really bad for your ribs".

Short, grey, sleeveless shirt made from jersey-knit synthetic material. Arm holes and neck bound in black synthetic tape. Velcro fastening at left side. Front reinforced with layers of padding: in those areas the garment is firm and non-stretchy, whereas elsewhere the fabric has an elasticity due to its knitted construction. Printed manufacturer's label at outer rear neck.