Threads of Resistance: Fashion as Protest

Clothing as a Silent Rebellion

When words are censored or too dangerous to speak, clothes can shout. Think of the suffragettes of the early 20th century, who wore white dresses with purple and green sashes as they marched for women’s right to vote—a uniform that communicated solidarity and defiance in an era of silence.

Or consider the black beret and leather jackets of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s—a uniform that projected militancy, unity, and pride in the face of systemic oppression. Clothing, in these moments, became armor and statement all at once.

In apartheid-era South Africa, students donned school uniforms en masse during protests—a visual reminder that children bore the brunt of injustice. In more recent years, movements like #MeToo and Time’s Up have seen women in Hollywood wearing black on red carpets, turning a glamorous setting into a stage for accountability.

Symbols on Sleeves

Fashion allows people to literally wear their hearts—and causes—on their sleeves. Slogans on T-shirts, pins, armbands, and even choice of colors have become shorthand for entire movements.

The pink “pussyhat” became an emblem of the Women’s March in 2017, instantly recognizable as a symbol of feminist protest. Rainbow flags worn as capes or sewn into jackets have long been a staple at Pride marches, representing LGBTQ+ pride and resistance to discrimination.

In many cases, protest fashion borrows and reclaims. Denim, once considered a workman’s fabric, became synonymous with youth rebellion in the 1950s. Streetwear appropriated elements of luxury and turned them into statements about inequality, access, and class.

Cultural Identity as Defiance

For marginalized groups, wearing traditional dress or natural hairstyles in spaces where they are discouraged or outright banned is also a form of protest. For many Black people around the world, embracing Afros, locs, and cornrows in professional and public spaces resists Eurocentric beauty standards and asserts cultural pride.

Similarly, Indigenous peoples who don their ceremonial regalia at protests or public events defy centuries of erasure and suppression of their culture.

Why Fashion Matters in Protest

Critics sometimes dismiss protest fashion as “performative” or superficial. But appearances matter. Protest is not just about disrupting power structures; it’s about being seen and heard. A sea of coordinated colors, a banner stitched into a dress, or a message emblazoned on a jacket can capture attention, make headlines, and inspire others to join.

As Nigerian activist Aisha Yesufu once said after being photographed in her now-iconic hijab at #EndSARS protests: “Sometimes what you wear becomes part of the story. And the story is what moves people.”

The Future of Fashion and Resistance

In an age of social media and fast fashion, protest style spreads faster than ever—sometimes even co-opted by corporations. But it remains a vital form of self-expression, a way to make movements visible and memorable.

From the streets of Lagos to New York catwalks, protest fashion continues to evolve—at once personal and political, subtle and loud. Every pin, patch, and pattern can be a declaration: We see. We resist. We won’t be silenced.

Because in the end, the clothes we choose to wear can tell a story bigger than ourselves—a story of struggle, solidarity, and hope. And sometimes, a story strong enough to spark change.