hello everyone!! happy spring break and I hope that schooling is going well for all of the students, and also that life is smooth sailing as we reach spring. #rebirthwho

to start us off, i would like to acknowledge the outbursts of political energy and attacks that are currently happening. if you or anyone you know or are close with resides in the middle east, i pray that they are safe. i hope this piece opens your mind to concepts that affect our everyday life.

here is a piece from cassie. enjoy, enjoy!

╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ Your outward embodiment, pieced through layers of fabric, perfectly displays your values. Since fashion is often considered to be a part of one’s identity, it means it would also represent one’s political views. From the brand you wear to the material of your shoes, every bit of fashion is deliberate and meaningful. 

The interrelation between fashion and politics traces back to Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece, with many using clothing to symbolise their beliefs and rights. Before the French Revolution, aristocrats relished in ostentatious clothing that indicated their status and corrupt wealth. In contrast to the working class’ plain clothes, aristocrats wore elaborate accessories and luxurious fabrics; this represents the large wealth gap that we also commonly see today.

Another major example would be the Victorian Era, where fashion was crucial to convey one’s social class and status. Women of the Victorian Era were often depicted as helpless and dependent, as shown in their movement-restricting heavy dresses. This contributed to the advocacy of women’s rights, such as the Dress Reform movement, which introduced bloomers that prioritised women’s comfort. However, fashion was more than just one’s social class; it was a part of human-caused climate change. The Industrial Revolution that took place in 1760 to 1860 established mass production. Excessive amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) spilled into the air. Clothes were being made fast, and the quality of fabrics decreased drastically. This was the beginning of modern-day fast fashion. 

Vivienne Westwood was a British punk fashion designer who fought for climate action. She was known for her designs that went against the status-quo and used the runway as a form of protest. She had a significant impact on climate action and actively advocated for her beliefs on anarchism during the Punk movement. Instead of relying on cheap materials, Westwood valued the sustainability and quality of clothing and was against mass production. As stated in her mantra,“buy less, choose well, make it last,” Westwood expressed her disapproval of mass consumption and unsustainable clothing. On the runway, she protested for marginalized Indigenous cultures and endangered animals, and condemned consumer greed, mass consumption, and climate change. In 2013, Westwood and her close friend Daniel Lismore, a British artist, creative consultant, celebrity stylist, and a writer and campaigner, fought against fracking, an oil-extracting method that released tons of climate-damaging methane into the environment. 

Politics through fashion is also found in our daily lives. Boycotting is a pressure tactic that has been used throughout history, and it is still a common way people use to fight for their beliefs. Brands such as Zara are currently being boycotted due to their suspected support for Israel’s position in the war. In 2023, Zara launched a controversial ad campaign titled ‘The Jacket’ portraying mannequins wrapped in what seemed like white shrouds. The company received heavy backlash as people speculated the close resemblance between the limbless mannequins and the shrouded Palestinian bodies shown in the genocide in Gaza. In the beginning of 2025, the fast-fashion clothing brand Zara opened their largest store in Israel and effectively strengthened their economic relations. 

In fashion, expression is art, and art is used to demonstrate yourself and your views. It can be a chiton that represents democracy, bloomers that fight for women’s rights, or a loud protest that struts across a stage screaming for the world to stop destroying its home. Fashion will always be political, and it can be manifested through you.