Gender-Neutral Kid's Clothing Store Opens In Atlanta

ATLANTA — Mini Friday Children's Boutique, a store that media reports are calling Atlanta's first gender-neutral kid's clothing store, has opened in the city's Kirkwood community. The store is located on Hosea L. Williams Drive, and is owned and operated by Allie Friday.

Friday told the AJC she opened the store after her daughters began complaining about the traditional girl ensembles her mother was picking for them to wear. “I decided I wanted to open my own gender neutral, safe space for all children who simply want to wear what they like, without judgment,” she said.

According to a press release from the store, Mini Friday is "committed to celebrating each and every child’s own style while not dictating that girls wear pink and boys wear blue unless they want to." The store will carry brands such as A.B.C., Booso, Turtledove London, Lets Kid, Joah Love, Carrots, Ammehola, Tai 2, Chewable charm, Hause of Jr, Superism, Miles baby, and more.

T-shirt customization and embroidery will also be offered on site, as well as a safe zone that includes a selfie and chalkboard wall and juice bar.

Gender-neutral children's clothing has made a lot of national headlines in recent months. Last year, international songstress Celine Dion launched a line of kids' neutral gender clothing called elinununu, which the company says "liberates children from the traditional roles of boy/girl, and enables younger people to grow on values of equality with the freedom to strengthen their own power of personality based on mutual respect."

The brand generated controversy from the start. An ad for the new clothing line featured Dion being pursued by police after she broke into a hospital nursery.

The National Catholic Register called the ad "demonic," and said Dion had "gone to the dark side" following her Catholic upbringing.

Target is also carrying several lines of gender-neutral baby clothing, according to Romper, although these seem to be targeted at parents who choose not to learn their baby's gender until after birth.