Social Activism through Fashion

The connection of social movements between fashion history

Blank Panther members by Jack Manning

Katharine and Margaret Thatcher, 1984 via BBC

Activism, politics, and fashion history have all played a major role in the evolution of the world’s most significant social movements. Activists of all kinds are often dressing themselves to match their political mindsets. Fashion continues to be a tool for marginalized communities. Protest and social movements used clothing in unique ways, including black armbands and bell-bottoms for the anti-Vietnam War movement, mini-skirts for the women’s liberation movement, berets, and uniforms for the Black Panthers movement. In each of those social movements, people expressed rebellion against the traditions, standards, and rules of society. Clothes are an important symbol of a collective identity, therefore fashion can foster feelings of pride and community, address racial inequality, question gender binaries, or simply set the new rules and show a new perspective

“ AOC AT MET GALA “

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez arrives with Aurora James on the red carpet for the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday in New York, New York.