The fight against racism has dominated both the political and media fields for decades. Many anti-racism campaigners lost their lives while others underwent untold suffering. Amid hatred, violence, and wars resulting from fights against racism, something positive has always emerged.
Most fashion trends emerged from anti-racism movements, protests, and campaigns. From the pioneers of suffragettes dressed in white to the bra-burning feminists in 1968, every historical anti-racism record has both its good and ugly part. Most of them became the springboard of trending fashion.
The Older Trend – Suffrage, and Fashion
Historically, women have suffered the most, and in some cultures, they were not allowed to talk to strangers without the company of a male. This culture has prevailed for a long time and in some schools today, male teachers communicating with students is sometimes taken negatively.
The main challenge throughout the twentieth century was equality and racism. Although women were generally not allowed in the political circles and the white-collar jobs, women of color suffered greater discrimination.
Women in Texas could not take it anymore and they took to the streets in vigorous and rough protests. They started to abandon their women’s roles and refused to wear their restricting clothes. Their daywear underwent fashion change and transformed to clothes that were lighter, shorter, and more like what the men wore. With the new fashion, women were able to move more freely and hemlines reached above the ankle for the first time.
Boots became fashionable from that time. Although some women resisted this new trend, it marked the beginning of shorter dresses and sleeveless blouses commonly worn by women today.
The Most Recent Trend – Blacks Lives Matter
After George Floyd died at the hands of the police, global protests were triggered but their epicenter was in the streets and the media of the US. The protest leaders borrowed ideas from past successful protests and movements for their dress code. Black Panther won the day and model Adwoa Aboah appeared in media dressed in total black. On her head was a beret which was the clearest reminder of the Black Panther protests. Later Ashley Banjo, a presenter, appeared on media dressed in the same colors. The subsequent street protests adopted this dressing code and made a big impact both locally and internationally.
Every American awoke to the reality that dressing can be used to help further a cause. In recent American history, most protests only witnessed participants dressed in T-shirts and it had little impact on fashion. Protestors and the general public all went back to their ordinary fashion and life went on.
The particular difference with the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement was its effect on fashion and its use of fashion. The black fabric became the signature dressing for passing important information. It spread to the sports fields, ordinary business activities, politics, and educational institutions. The general public embraced clothes as a tool for communication.
Social issues around the world have influenced the world of fashion in many ways. What the protestors were dressed in was taken as the fashion of the time and fashion designers were keen to take fashion to the next level. It can be pointed out that the problem of racism often overlaps with the problem of slavery. Every student can read examples of slavery essay topics on a free online resource and see how terrible this crime is against humanity. There are many examples of slavery essay topics on Samplius for students to read. The essay examples available on free online essay services are some of the best sources for learning.
The Link between Fashion and Racism
Racism takes many forms and each affects fashion differently. Environmental racism and systematic racism are the major forms. As people organize protests and movements, fabric designers play an important role in designing an outfit fitting for the protest. Protest leaders are usually the first to use the dress codes and they eventually influence the rest of the protestors. Women’s fashion is influenced by racist protests most and can be traced back to more than 200 years ago.
For example, when women were protesting about too much restrictive dressing and racism, fashion designers were quick to design dresses that were lighter and shorter. This was a turning point and we never went back to their traditional dressing.
It might be hard to understand what pioneers of anti-racism movements in history went through. However, research-based literature can help uncover secrets that have remained hidden for many years. Societies in the past had to deal with bigger social problems that caused life to some of them. Today students can read argumentative essay examples on racism on Samplius and write essays on various social problems.
Such a problem as racism, unfortunately, is very common in our society. Not only the fashion world but also students are trying to fight this social problem. To get acquainted with the real facts, it is worth reading the examples of slavery essay topics, where various stories are written that are associated with racism.
Are Racism and Fashion Real Today?
The problem of racism is still alive in societies today and many activists are at the forefront fighting against the vice. The advantage is the involvement of social influencers in the social media field, movies world, music industry, and NGOs, which is not only influencing action against racism by governments but also the growth of fashion trends.
Conclusion
Historically, racism has influenced fashion in many ways. During mass protests and anti-racism movements, organizers choose unique dressing to help them communicate their dissatisfaction. Fashion designers come in and use their creativity and create unique fashion. In most cases, it has always marked the beginning of a new fashion trend. The main anti-racism movement that affected fashion was the Suffrage movement that started in Texas.