Fashionably Protesting

Fashion is a form of expression crafted with meaningful designs and colors that exhibit the creator's vision. This vision is an embodiment of influences molded by inspirations created by society. When inequality trumps fairness, the people within the community make the humble decision to unify and fight for freedom. Fashion, as a form of expression, has also been a form of social protest. If you look back in history, we notice that before protestors utter a single word, their outfits send a dignifying message to those observing.

In other words, Fashion is a form of protest!

In the article "How Clothes Helped Female Leaders Convey the Struggle for Civil Rights," the "Sunday Best" look was de rigueur at nonviolent protests. Appearing polished and put-together brought a serious undertone to the proceedings and demanded that the activists be taken seriously as citizens" (Carlos). Activists believed that Fashion creates a powerful and symbolic statement as a way to address that issue at hand.

Black panthers also believed that Fashion is a way to address social injustices. For many years straight hair determined how others saw your beauty. The BPP wanted to have more rights, compensation for the pain, and suffering of African Americans. This style was in such high demand that Madame CJ Walker created the first hair-straightening formula and the hot comb. Little did they know, the desperate need for hair straightening stemmed from racism.

Its popularity grew when whites ostracized African Americans for having, coarse and kinky. It was the ideology of the Black Panther Movement to break away from this thinking and push the black community to appreciate their natural beauty. They wore afros as a way to downplay the need to achieve the European standard of beauty. They also wanted others to accept the traits that make the black community unique.

One example of fashionable protest is, At the 2018 Golden Globes awards, many of the attendees wore black as way to represent and honor sexual assault survivors. Their act of protest was a way of partnering with the #Metoo Movement.

During Trump's inauguration, women rallied for women's rights against sexism. The creation of pink "Pussy hats", which are wool hats with car ears, were made in reference to a derogatory statement by trump saying, "grab her by the pussy." This movement unified women to fight against misogyny.

Fashion is the most powerful weapon used to protest against inequalities. It inspires the world, but most of all it brings us all together.

Sources

Carlos, Marjon. “How Clothes Helped Female Leaders Convey the Struggle for Civil Rights.”Vogue, Vogue, 25 May 2017, www.vogue.com/article/rosa-parks-civil-rights-angela-davis-coretta-scott-king-civil-rights-movement.