From Gay Sheep to the Runway: Grindr celebrates queer identity with launch of fashion collection ‘I Wool Survive’

All photos Randy Brooke. 

Grindr has taken fashion activism to a new level with the debut of I Wool Survive - hailed as the "world’s first truly gay fashion collection".

The collection, which launched in New York, is the result of an unexpected collaboration between Rainbow Wool - a German non-profit that rescues gay rams from slaughter - and acclaimed designer Michael Schmidt, whose star-studded client list includes Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Cher. Together, they created 36 handcrafted looks spun entirely from Rainbow Wool yarn, with designs inspired by iconic gay archetypes: from Leathermen and Daddies to Firefighters and Sailors.

Beyond its striking visuals, the project carries a powerful message about connection and diversity. “The gay sheep get discarded, get forgotten, are seen as not valuable,” said Tristan Pineiro, Grindr’s SVP of Brand Marketing and Communications. “But through them, two people who would never otherwise have met - a German sheep farmer and a Los Angeles designer - got connected and together created something beautiful.”

The show highlighted the natural diversity that exists across species and challenged lingering prejudices. Schmidt explained: “The mistreatment of animals that exhibit same-sex attraction is a painful reminder of the prejudice that continues to affect LGBTQ+ communities worldwide. Hopefully, by illustrating that homosexuality exists throughout the animal kingdom, we can help put to bed the false and damaging notion that being gay is a choice.”

The I Wool Survive runway show took place at The Altman Building in Manhattan, followed by an after-party at The Eagle NYC. Select pieces will be auctioned to support LGBTQ+ initiatives globally, while Grindr continues to champion Rainbow Wool’s mission throughout 2026.

Rainbow Wool’s founder, Michael Stücke, summed up the ethos behind the collaboration: “Scientific studies show that around one in twelve rams naturally prefer other males. Our farm offers them a different fate. This partnership proves that being gay is part of nature itself, and I’m proud our sheep can help people see love and diversity in a new way.”