Siblings. Business partners. Queer creators. And the duo behind everything FLAVNT.
We’re Chris and Courtney Rhodes — twin siblings from Texas who started FLAVNT with a couple ideas, a shared mission, and the belief that clothes could do more than just make you look good. They could help you feel seen, affirmed, and proud. Nearly a decade later, we’re still running FLAVNT together as a small, independent, queer-owned brand. And this is our story.
Where It All Started
We grew up in San Antonio, Texas — a place where queerness wasn’t exactly visible, let alone celebrated. But from an early age, we were both creative and driven. We both studied graphic design in college and moved to NYC to pursue our careers - FLAVNT was essentially born in our tiny Brooklyn apartment.
In 2014, we combined our skills and passions to launch FLAVNT Streetwear: a queer clothing brand focused on authenticity, accessibility, and giving back. We were frustrated by rainbow-washing and companies profiting off queer identity without investing in our communities — so we built something different.
What Makes FLAVNT Different
There are some incredible queer brands out there — from TomboyX’s inclusive underwear to Wildfang’s power suits — but we saw a gap: everyday, casual clothing and binders made by trans and queer folks, for trans and queer folks, with messaging that actually resonated.
We wanted to make:
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Apparel that was gender-affirming without being sterile
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Streetwear that was cute, comfortable, and political
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Products that gave back to real people in our community
So we launched a line of slogan tees with messages like “Pretty Boy” and “Gender Roles are Dead,” and we committed to donating a portion of every sale to fund gender-affirming surgeries for trans people — a model that wasn’t common back then. Over the years, we helped 14 different trans people afford and access gender affirming surgery directly through our fundraising partnerships.
Being Sibling Co-Founders
Yes, we’re twins. Yes, we work together daily. Yes, it gets chaotic. But the foundation of this brand is built on trust, communication, and shared lived experience.
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Chris brings his perspective as a trans man, our community connector, and someone who knows first-hand how affirming clothing can change lives.
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Courtney brings her background in creative direction, design, and branding — making sure everything we put out feels cohesive, elevated, and mission-aligned.
Together, we balance each other. We fight (because siblings), we brainstorm, and we show up — for each other, and for the people FLAVNT was created for.
The Surgery Fund Model
One of the core pillars of FLAVNT is community giving — not performative, one-time donations, but direct, ongoing financial support. We’ve hosted campaigns that raised over $30,000+ for individuals seeking gender-affirming care — helping trans folks get gender affirming surgery, pay for HRT, or cover medical travel expenses. We have since moved to donating directly to established nonprofits and community organizations, but the mission is still the same.
Every purchase from FLAVNT helps fund our community — and we’ve seen firsthand how impactful that can be. When other brands ask us why we “give away so much,” we remind them: this is why we started in the first place.
Being Queer Entrepreneurs in a Capitalist World
Running a small business as queer founders isn’t easy. We’re competing with bigger brands that can afford targeted ads, influencer sponsorships, and mass production. We don’t have a marketing team or a VC fund. What we have is you — our community — and a commitment to transparency and values-driven growth.
Some things we’ve learned along the way:
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You don’t need to scale fast to be successful.
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Authenticity outperforms trend-chasing.
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Community > clout. Always.
We see FLAVNT not just as a business, but as a way to push back against gatekeeping, tokenization, and rainbow capitalism — and instead build something rooted in real relationships and purpose.
Looking Ahead
Ten years ago, we couldn’t have imagined that our tiny idea would grow into a platform that’s helped fund surgeries, affirm identities, and build real connection. We’re proud of how far we’ve come — and we’re excited for what’s next.
We’ll continue refining our binders, expanding our apparel line, and experimenting with new ways to connect with our audience (hello, TikTok and storytelling campaigns 👀). But no matter what changes, FLAVNT will always be run by us — two queer siblings who believe that clothes can be a form of resistance, softness, and pride.
Thanks for being part of this journey.