Supporting Trans Folks in Canada: Clothing, Care & Community Resources

Canada is often celebrated for its universal healthcare and progressive values. But for many trans and gender-diverse people, accessing gender-affirming care is still far from straightforward.

Long wait times, a shortage of trained providers, uneven provincial coverage, and limited support for affirming garments like binders or gaffs mean that many people are left navigating care on their own. For trans folks in rural or remote areas, these barriers can feel even heavier.

That’s why community-led solutions matter so much.

Today, we’re highlighting two Canadian partners who are helping close these gaps in meaningful, practical ways: Origami Customs, a made-in-Canada gender-affirming apparel brand, and Home Health Care Nipissing Pharmacy / Northern Shores Pharmacy, which offers private fittings, safety education, and affirming medical support in Northern Ontario.

Together, they show what’s possible when compassion, expertise, and community care come together.

Gender-Affirming Access in Canada: Where Gaps Remain

Despite the strengths of Canada’s healthcare system, trans people continue to face real challenges, including:

• Specialist waitlists that can stretch months or even years
• Provincial coverage that varies widely and often excludes affirming garments
• Limited access to trans-competent care in rural and remote communities
• High costs and lack of guidance when sourcing safe, affirming clothing

In this landscape, affirming small businesses and community partners aren’t “extra” — they’re essential. They provide dignity, safety, and trusted support where systems fall short.

Origami Customs: Gender-Affirming Apparel, Made with Intention

Origami Customs is a Montreal-based fashion label creating ethically made binders, gaffs, compression tops, lingerie, and swimwear for people of all genders and bodies. Born from and led by the queer and trans community, their work centers lived experience—not assumptions.

Point of Pride has partnered with Origami Customs for over four years, helping connect thousands of trans folks with affirming garments designed for comfort, safety, and joy.

What makes Origami Customs stand out...

Designed Through Lived Experience

Every garment is created with real, diverse trans bodies in mind, prioritizing safe compression, flexibility, and comfort over rigid norms.

Inclusive Customization

• Free custom sizing on every order
• No size limits or fat tax
• Gusset customization to accommodate different anatomies
• A shopping experience that removes the gender binary entirely
• Origami Customs is currently size-inclusive from XXS–7XL, with unlimited custom sizing available.

Ethical, Community-Centered Production

All garments are handmade in Montreal by queer and trans makers, with profits reinvested into living wages, skill development, and one of the most comprehensive gender-affirming benefits packages in the fashion industry.

Education & Global Community Care

• Free, accessible safety resources
• Monthly webinars on topics like disability & gender, allyship, and workplace professionalism
• A global community program that partners with hundreds of organizations across five continents—distributing hundreds of free garments each month to people facing systemic and financial barriers

Origami Customs’ mission is simple and powerful: to make gender-affirming fashion accessible to anyone who needs it. In a time when trans rights are increasingly under attack, they hold firm to the belief that clothing can be more than fabric — it can be a lifeline.

💬 In Conversation with Origami Customs...

"What inspired you to start Origami Customs, and why focus on affirming apparel?"
Origami Customs began 16 years ago with the intention of bringing custom-fit tailoring to swimwear and lingerie for my community. With intimate garments especially, people need to feel affirmed in both their gender and their body. When I moved back to Canada and reconnected with my gender-diverse community, I began seeing significant gaps in the market — and realized my skillset could help meet those needs.

I developed some of the first custom-fit gaffs and binders available, extending size ranges and using safe, flexible materials that weren’t common at the time.

"How does community feedback shape your design process?"
Community feedback is constant — from customers, friends, professional fit testers, and staff. Because every piece is handmade from start to finish by one person, our makers are able to truly visualize how each garment needs to move and fit. Since our entire team is queer and trans and has experience using gender-affirming gear, we design with safety, comfort, and real-world use in mind.

"What are the biggest barriers trans Canadians face when accessing binders or shapewear?"
Affordability is a huge issue, especially as many trans people face barriers to stable, livable employment. While some gender-affirming procedures may be covered, non-medical supports often aren’t. That’s why our community program exists — we distribute over 500 free garments per month through a network of affirming providers.
I’d also love to see gender gear offered more widely in healthcare spaces, like Nipissing Pharmacy. Normalizing access is key.

"How do you balance affordability, safety, and quality?"
We start by caring for the people making the garments. Our products aren’t the cheapest — and that’s intentional — but if someone can’t afford one, they can access free gear through our community partners. Ethical production and accessibility can coexist.
Because everything is made in-house, quality control is strong, and our 16 years of feedback informs continuous improvement. At the end of the day, we’re all in community together.

"What are you excited about next?"
We’re expanding our gaff offerings and increasing ready-to-ship options, so people can access affirming gear without waiting when standard sizing works for them.

Home Health Care Nipissing Pharmacy & Northern Shores Pharmacy: Care That Centers Safety and Trust

In Northern Ontario, Home Health Care Nipissing Pharmacy and Northern Shores Pharmacy are offering something truly rare: private, gender-affirming fittings for binders and shapewear, paired with safety education and medical expertise.

Their work bridges the gap between healthcare and personal comfort, especially in regions where trans-competent care can be hard to find.

What Makes Their Approach Different

• Private, respectful consultations that prioritize dignity
• Measuring, fitting, and safety guidance to reduce risk and discomfort
• Staff trained in safer-space practices for the 2SLGBTQ+ community
• A model that normalizes trans health needs within medical settings

💬 In Conversation with Nipissing Pharmacy & Northern Shores Pharmacy...

"What motivated you to begin offering private fittings?"
We recognized a clear service gap in Northern Ontario. As a Certified Compression Fitter, safety has always been my priority. Compression therapy knowledge translates well to binding and shaping apparel, and education is essential.
I also have loved ones who are trans, and learning more deeply about the barriers they face made it impossible not to act.

"How do you create an affirming experience for clients?"
Our private fitting rooms, try-before-you-buy policy, and respect for names and pronouns are foundational. All staff complete mandatory safer-space training. We support people whether they are trans, breast cancer survivors, both, or neither — without conditions or judgment.

"What safety guidance do you share most often?"
With training support from Origami Customs, we focus on donning and doffing techniques, wear duration, garment care, and post-wear stretching. We want clients to leave with confidence, comfort, and knowledge.

"What have you learned from working with trans clients?"
That access to care is about trust. Building that trust requires humility, empathy, and ongoing education. Our clients consistently inspire us with their authenticity and courage.

"What do you hope other providers understand?"
Education counters misinformation. Pharmacies play a critical role in closing gaps and creating safer communities. Inclusion is a choice — and choosing inclusion is choosing care, dignity, and love.

Building a More Affirming Canada

As trans people across Canada continue to navigate barriers to gender-affirming care, partners like Origami Customs and Home Health Care Nipissing Pharmacy remind us what’s possible. They’re creating safer pathways, restoring trust, and helping trans and gender-diverse people feel more at home in their bodies.

If you’d like to support this work...

• Share these resources with friends, care providers, and community groups
• Support affirming, community-led Canadian brands
• Encourage local pharmacies and clinics to expand gender-affirming services

Together, we can build a Canada where affirming care isn’t just available—but accessible, informed, and deeply compassionate.