Protest Fashion: How Clothes Became Weapons in the Fight for Palestine

2025-09-19 12:00:40.068

At a recent London march for Gaza, protesters used clothing to amplify their message, wearing items like shirts with images of victims and Palestinian flags. This "protest dressing" isn't frivolous; it's a powerful expression of grief and a call to action. Many protesters wear keffiyehs, badges, or watermelons—a symbol of solidarity since the Israeli ban on Palestinian flags. Others get creative, creating outfits from keffiyehs or wearing the colors of the Palestinian flag. The practice of protest dressing has historical precedent, from suffragettes in white to civil rights activists in their Sunday best. Single items can become shorthand for a movement, as seen with the pink pussyhats of the Women's March. Authorities often try to suppress this form of protest; during the first intifada, "intifada dresses" with embroidered symbols of resistance were forbidden. Even in the UK, wearing protest clothing can lead to arrest. Palestinian designers like Ayham Hassan symbolically protest through their work, facing challenges even smuggling traditional tatreez from the West Bank. Protest dressing extends beyond marches, becoming part of everyday life, seen at festivals and even in offices. Individual expression is now more common than uniform attire, reflecting the decentralized nature of modern movements. Celebrities like Greta Thunberg and Bella Hadid have also embraced protest dressing, further amplifying its message. Designers like Katharine Hamnett continue to use slogan T-shirts as a powerful tool for protest, and others are following suit. Protest dressing, done effectively, creates a powerful visual image, uniting voices through shared clothing and symbols.