13 Times Designers Got Political at New York Fashion Week

When President Trump’s immigration ban went into effect, much of the fashion world remained oddly silent, causing news outlets like Business of Fashion and Mic to let out a resounding (and, at the time, warranted) “What gives?” François-Henri Pinault of Kering, Naeem Khan, Diane Von Furstenberg, Christian Siriano, Public School’s Dao-Yi Chow, Bella and Gigi Hadid, Lindsey Wixon and Cara Delevigne were some of the first to speak out and, in the case of Bella, Gigi and Dao-Yi, take to the streets. Given that so many of the industry’s elites and workers are immigrants, it seemed strange for designers not to speak out — especially given their recent outpouring of support for the Women’s March.

Turns out many were simply biding their time, waiting to make their stand on the global platform that is New York Fashion Week. Over the past few days, the proverbial (politically charged) beat dropped. In addition to sporting pink Planned Parenthood-supporting pins, designers used clothes, accessories and set design to unequivocally voice their political beliefs. Fashion is no longer frivolous, folks.

Click through the slideshow above to witness some of the more strident runway-based protests. (Honorable mention goes to the teams at Calvin Klein, Cushnie et Ochs, Chromat, Telfar, Tracy Reese and Monse, who expressed their anti-Trump feelings through soundtrack — in some cases song, in others spoken word.)

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