Fashion Week's Most Showstopping Feminist Moments
By Brittany Adams. Photos: Getty Images.
This season is giving whole new meaning to the oft-used term “statement-making.” A new wave of activism has spread through New York fashion week, with many designers using their fall 2017 runway shows as a feminist battle cry.
While politics and fashion have rarely mixed in the past, the timing was right for a pro-women movement this season. Maria Grazia Chiuri lit the fuse several months back with her memorable debut for Dior, which included a T-shirt that read “We Should All Be Feminists.” It soon went viral with the street style set.
A large portion of the fashion community publicly supported Hillary Clinton on social media with posts tagged #NastyWoman and #ImWithHer during the election campaign. In January, the industry came together again for the record-setting Women’s March. And just before the fall '17 shows kicked off, the CFDA introduced a new initiative to raise awareness for Planned Parenthood. The bright pink pins proclaiming “Fashion Stands With Planned Parenthood” have been absolutely everywhere this season.
Designers like Prabal Gurung and Jonathan Simkhai have taken things a step further by featuring graphic feminist T-shirts on their runways. Mara Hoffman continued to wave the feminist flag by inviting the cochairs of the Women’s March to speak before her show. “Fashion has always been a reflection of our culture, and can inspire action in others because of the attention we’re given,” Hoffman tells Allure.
When asked if feminism is just a passing fashion trend, Hoffman remarked, “So [are] yoga and meditation, but all of these things are good for our society.” Here, we’ve rounded up noteworthy feminist moments from NYFW. Check back for more throughout the season.
Prabal Gurung
Prabal Gurung stirred up the most hype surrounding the issue at his Sunday show, in which Bella Hadid led the finale in a white T-shirt that read “The Future is Female.” The other models all wore tees stamped with different political slogans such as “Stay Woke,” “Nevertheless, She Persisted,” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Rights.” The designer took his bow wearing one that said “This is What a Feminist Looks Like.” It was only a matter of hours before Gurung’s feminist tees made their way to street style influencers, including Irene Kim, Aimee Song, and Bryanboy.
Mara Hoffman
What a way to open a show. Hoffman joined forces with the cochairs of the Women’s March, who introduced the designer’s collection by taking turns reading empowering statements. “We come together in the spirit of democracy, unity, love, and strength with the message that women’s rights are human rights,” said Carmen Perez. “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change,” continued Bob Bland. “I am changing the things I cannot accept.” The cochairs punctuated their speeches with the common refrain: “Hear our voice.”
Tome
Tome’s Ryan Lobo and Ramon Martin have always looked to strong female characters for inspiration. This season was no different, but they amped up their messaging by dedicating the collection to the Guerrilla Girls, an anonymous female artist collective who have been fighting for women’s rights for decades. The show notes were printed with a 1988 publication by the group, "The Advantages of Being a Woman Artist.” The Tome boys both took their bow in Planned Parenthood T-shirts.
Jonathan Simkhai
Jonathan Simkhai added fuel to the girl-power graphic-tee trend by closing his fall show in a “Feminist AF” shirt and giving one to each guest in the front row. He donated $5 for every seat at his show to Planned Parenthood, and will also give the proceeds from sales of those tees to the organization. Just like Gurung's, Simkhai’s statement-making shirts quickly became a hit with the fashion set.
Rebecca Minkoff
After switching coasts to present her new collection in Los Angeles, Rebecca Minkoff closed the show with a live performance by MILCK, who sang her hit song "Quiet," the unofficial anthem of the Women’s March, and a new anthem for empowerment.
This story originally appeared on Allure.
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