R E S I S TA N C E THROUGH FA S H I O N BY TIERNEY SMITH
Fashion is seen by many as a hobby, a passion or a pastime to entertain themselves. In reality, fashion is a form of expression. It is a method to communicate to the world around you who you are — your personality, your mood, your music taste, your opinions. Many people have taken a step further and have used fashion as an agent of change, from New York City to San Francisco, and across the globe. THE SUFFRAGETTES
One of the first movements to weaponize fashion was the women’s suffrage movement in the U.S. in the early 20th century. As more and more women demanded the right to vote, they discarded previous societal norms for how a “true lady” should dress. The typical suffragette look consisted of either a white dress to imply purity, or more comfortable attire — something as radical as pants, overalls or skirts with hem lines above the ankle. Antagonists of the movements noted the clothing shift immediately and commonly used it in anti-suffrage propaganda. BLACK PANTHERS
signature look consisted of black leather jackets, black sunglasses and a black beret. These items helped generate a collective look, and therefore, a collective feel to their movement — emphasizing the power in numbers belief. They also helped hide identities and protected the families of the protestors from harm. In an interview with Marketplace, Tanisha C. Ford, City University of New York social movement professor, commented on the “brand” of a political resistance. “They’re wearing them as a symbol that represents very organically the group of people who are mobilizing against something … ” Ford says. This signature look is still present today — think of Beyonce’s 2016 Superbowl performance — and still carries the weight of the social movement behind it. BERLINERS
One of the more hidden tales of fashion occurred in the small distance between totalitarianism and democracy. When Berlin was split in two by the Berlin Wall in 1961, laws and regulations were implemented that extinguished self-expression and individuality. Designers and creatives went underground, using fashion to express their rebellion against the German Democratic Republic. Loud patterns, bright colors and outlandish designs filled secret shows inside old churches, abandoned factories and private homes during the 80s.
During the American Civil Rights Movement, many different voices arose, and with them, many ACT UP styles. While the NAACP believed in wearing your “Sunday best” to protests to excube respect- When the AIDS crisis began sweeping across ability, the Black Panthers had other ideas. Their the United States in the early 80s, thousands
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