Gegen Excess — GEGEN BERLIN

XS
noun /'ɛksɛs, ɛk'sɛs, ɪk'sɛs/

an amount of something that is more than necessary, permitted, or desirable.
"Are you suffering from an XS of stress in your life?"

lack of moderation, especially in eating or drinking.

"bouts of indulgent XS"

adjective /'ɛksɛs, ɪk'sɛs/

exceeding a prescribed or desirable amount.
"an incredible amount of XS heat"

When we think of the size XS, we often associate it with smallness, delicacy, and fragility. But what if we flipped that script and saw XS as a symbol of eXceSs, eXceSs in all its queer and political glory?

Let's consider the way the fashion industry and mainstream culture often pigeonhole femininity, queerness, genders and body shapes into a narrow set of size and appearance standards. The pressure to conform to a certain body type can be suffocating, especially for those of us who don't fit the mold. But what if we embraced the eXceSses of our bodies and identities, rather than trying to shrink ourselves down to fit someone else's idea of perfection?

XS could be a rebellion against this constricting norm, a celebration of the quirks and imperfections that make us unique. It could be a middle finger to the forces that try to police and control us, whether it's the fashion industry, the media, or even our own internalised biases.

The politics of eXceSs also have wider implications for how we see and treat others. It's about rejecting the toxic idea that some bodies are more valuable or worthy than others, and instead embracing a radical inclusivity that values all bodies and identities equally.

Size XS should not be the only acceptable way to be eXceSs. It should be about challenging the narrow definitions of beauty and worth that are imposed on us and finding ways to eXpreSs ourselves authentically and unapologetically, no matter what size or shape we are.

Join GEGEN for three XXXS days to eXSplore all of your XSs in all of its eXceSs and let them be a symbol of defiance, self-love, and political resistance. Let's reclaim the term and use it as a rallying cry for a more inclusive, diverse, and liberated world.

Embrace your XS,
celebrate your eXceSs,
eXpreSs your authentic self.

GEGEN XS

photo courtesy of Bruterdam
graphics & logo by Enrico Bardin

video teaser by Alessandra Leone