This Pride, we dreamed up a new collection with artist and bestie Alok Vaid-Menon. As a relentless advocate for LGBTQ+ culture and dismantling of traditional fashion norms, we couldn’t ask for a better creative partner that’s championing self-expression through fashion.
What’s unique about this collection? We’re taking a new approach to collaboration: co-creation. A co-creation is our commitment to create with communities – not for them. This two-piece co-creation with ALOK celebrates collaboration, authentic style, and confidence in dressing for yourself.
“We live in a world that often has taught us that we can only belong if we minimize ourselves. But I love being queer. I love having a body. I love being alive,” said ALOK.
We might be a little biased, but we’re living for ALOK’s vision in this two-piece collection, featuring our URSeen Dress and URSeen Platform. These pieces are not only about celebrating Pride, but also expressing yourself through fashion.
Expressing Yourself in the URSeen Dress
For ALOK, consulting the URSeen Dress is all about celebrating queer bodies everywhere, every day.
Growing up in a small town in Texas, ALOK expressed that it was not always easy, nonetheless safe to so openly express themself through bold gender non-conformist fashion.
“So much of my childhood was about hiding myself, having to cover up, disappear, to not draw attention to myself,” they said.
In their life now, they’re focused on healing. And co-creating this dress with us has just been one act of accessing their power.
“My goal with this was really to create a garment that actually celebrated queer bodies,” they said.
The URSeen dress features an asymmetrical shape and form-fitting faux fur fabrication. Having these two design elements was important to ALOK. These design details message that all bodies deserve to be seen.
“We have a lot of shame in our culture that tells us bodycon dresses are only for one kind of body type. You can’t be plus size, you can’t be trans. I wanted to push back against that and actually say all bodies are beautiful,” they said.
Oh, and also: The URSeen Dress is also just about having fun and tapping into joy.
“When I was conceiving this, I was like, ‘This is gonna be a garment that I can’t wait to see people style.’ . . . I was just imagining like people going out to a parade, people going out to a party, colorful, camp, funny, glamorous.”
Being Authentic in the URSeen Platform
To complete the look, ALOK worked with us on a totally bold clog. The URSeen Platform is a stand-out shoe that gives you space (and the height, mkay?) to be the star you are.
“Every time I put on a platform shoe, I’m just like, Whoa!” ALOK said.
They chose two gradient pattern color palettes for the outsole to illustrate the spectrums and fluidity of the LGBTQ+ community. While they wanted to incorporate multiple colors, it was important to them that they didn’t include a traditional rainbow.
As they put it, “We can graduate our LGBTQ+ aesthetics away from the rainbow.”
The main standout of this shoe is its height – a full 3” gradient platform, in all its glory. It’s giving drama, it’s taking up space, it’s celebrating self-expression, and it’s serving comfort without sacrificing style. And we have ALOK’s creative partnership to thank for that.
And while the shoe itself is big and bold, ALOK co-created it with us knowing that many times people wake up not feeling like their most confident selves.
“Sometimes when I’m feeling shy, or sheepish or embarrassed, I dress up as a way to remind myself, I am powerful,” said ALOK.
Celebrate Pride with the URSeen Collection
This platform offers the chance to be fearless and to not worry about what people might think of you. It’s more of a conversation piece, and a thought-starter. Bonus points is the clog platform is also super cute.
“So so much of what I was trying to do in this collection is to take something audacious like courage and put it into a shoe, so that when people are feeling a little timid, putting on that shoe can actually give you that sense of power.”
It’s almost Pride season (here at UGG we celebrate Pride all year tho) and we wanted to know what ALOK’s intention was for this summer, in general. Their answer: “maintain their joy, despite and alongside everything.” And we couldn’t agree more. Thanks for co-creating with us, ALOK!!
Explore and support our co-creation with ALOK.
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