‘It took me years and years to sort out chest surgery because I was self-employed in really precarious employment having lost my career when I started transitioning. I couldn’t just take time off work when a date came up and then have weeks off to recover. This binder hurt so much, but I wore it all day, every day. I was so scared of people touching me on the shoulder in case they could feel it underneath. This thing didn’t just crush me, it crushed my soul.’

OBJECT NUMBER MOT000026

This object currently lives in The Bishopsgate Institute.

Photo by Katy Davies, Fashion Space Gallery, London College of Fashion.