​​​​Hi, I'm Marcy Darling, a grownup-ish-14-year-old-boy-on-the-inside; genX-80s-darkside-goth-neopunk; astonishingly neuro-spicy introvert with a penchant for loud colors/patterns; an optimist with a panic disorder; married to Adam; mother to three amazing humans; hairdresser; and founder of Underdare. 

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Our story begins when the youngest Darling came out as trans masculine at age 11.​ As he physically matured he felt more and more uncomfortable in his body and he began wanting to try a chest binder (compression garment). Local shopping options for him didn’t exist, so like most in the transgender community, we headed online, with much trial and error. Purchasing anything online comes with sizing and other risks, and compression garments are not exempt from that -- all in all a frustrating experience to be sure, especially with a neurodivergent pre-teen with sensory issues!

This hard truth is what triggered the idea to open Underdare as the Twin Cities first in-person store exclusively for gender-affirming undergarments. Together, Young Mister Darling and I realized we could be the answer to this looming frustration within our community. I coincidently run a one-chair salon/gift shop in south Minneapolis, and we knew the lower level would be the perfect spot for the trans+ community, of all ages and sizes, to shop safely and privately for gender-affirming garments.​​

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Underdare gets its name because it was established in the basement of my salon -- Dare Salon, a one-chair, salon/gift shop in south Minneapolis. Plus, as it happens, it also rhymes with underwear, and if you want to take it one step further, you can ask, "hey, watcha ya got underdare??1?"

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When my son came out as transgender, I immersed myself in learning everything I could about trans issues, healthcare, and the specifics of gender-affirming care, including the risks and benefits of compression undergarments. I also had to learn a new vocabulary and all about garments and products for the trans-feminine members of our community. I'm sure I didn't realize the monumental journey on which I was about to embark!  As a mother of a preteen, I felt an immense responsibility to ensure his safety on all levels—emotional, physical, and clinical. Building Underdare’s inventory, I meticulously double-checked every resource and piece of advice he, and others, gave me to ensure we were relying on reputable, trusted sources. 

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Underdare is open by appointment only, serving transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse youth, teens, and adults. We provide a safe, private, in-person shopping experience, with multiple brands of gender affirming undergarments to touch, try on, and purchase. Underdare's in-store brands of gender affirming garments (i.e., chest binders, bras, gaffs, packers, binding/tucking tape, breast forms) are available in inclusive sizes, ranging from youth size 4 to adult size 8X. Unfortunately these garments have traditionally only been found in online marketplaces or sporadically in specialty stores -  Underdare now has you covered.

 

We're so happy you found us!

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We hope to see you soon!!!

xo, 

Marcy