T-shirts That Have Made a Statement
A reflection on statement T-shirts that changed our thinking
As we rummage through our wardrobes to find an old T-shirt to cut up for January’s YKWU upcycling session, we’ve come across a mixture of designs - plain Tees, vintage logos, football shirts and a few statement Tees. The slogan T-shirt trend constantly dips in and out of fashion, with The Times reporting the most recent splurge in 2023, highlighting recent examples from Sacai's “I got a feeling I'm gon' be alright” to Raf Simons's “Let's drink the sea and dance” via Vetements' “Stop being rich”.
A statement Tee allows us to communicate our thoughts and where we stand on a topic without having to utter a word. The power of a slogan T-Shirt came into the public eye in the 80s when Katharine Hammett politely stood beside Margaret Thatcher with an anti-nuclear message plastered across her oversized top for politicians and the world to see. Decades later, we find ourselves inundated with messages, so we’ve decided to reflect on some of the most powerful T-shirts that have changed the world.
We Should All Be Feminists
There have been many white tees that have conveyed messages that have accelerated awareness of feminist issues, from Katherine Hammett “Vote Tactically” to the ‘No More Page Three’ outrage. However, Dior’s ‘We Should All Be Feminists’ T-shirt was a global phenomenon. Designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri – Dior’s first female creative director in 70 years – for her debut collection in 2016. Worn by influential figures such as Jennifer Lawrence and Rihanna, it became a symbol of feminist empowerment. Chiuri drew inspiration from author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, whose work inspires women around the world by breaking gender constructions and stereotypes.
Vivienne Westwood
The late Dame Vivienne Westwood turned the fashion industry upside down, revolutionising the idea of style and proving that clothes can be a symbol of freedom and a tool of activism. Westwood used her platform and runway shows to express freedom and rebellion whilst campaigning for global and societal change, transforming models into unlikely activists.
Capturing a collage of some of her most infamous and impactful statement Tees, from “Destroy” to “Climate Revolution”. Her legacy continues with ‘Buy Less, Choose Well, Make It Last’ becoming a mantra for the slow fashion movement.
Dump Him
Britney Spears wore this Juicy Couture T-shirt after her split from Justin Timberlake in 2002, and she’d wear more T-shirts that expressed her feelings and fuelled the tabloids’ obsession with her personal life. Little did she know this phase would become a symbol for women to choose themselves, particularly when dating men. In 2019, UK based illustrator and influencer, Florence Given was spotlighted on Teen Vogue for bringing back the “Dump Him” mantra through her clothing collection, she expressed that she hoped that whenever someone came across the slogan, they it was a reminder to choose themselves and to get out of situations where they felts uncomfortable.
They Love Our Culture, But They Don’t Love Us
The Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 motivated people to protest on the streets, bring awareness of issues affecting black people and led to a push in system change across industries - including fashion. Aswell as the iconic Black Lives Matter T-Shirts being worn by athletes, musicians and influencers, a new era of fashion activism came into the limelight. Misemi released a T-shirt with the slogan ‘They Love Our Culture, But They Don’t Love Us’ subtly printed within her signature marble print. The phase was picked up on BBC’s fashion contest show “The Drop” hosted by artist Miguel in 2022.
Buy Art from Living Artists, The Dead Ones Don’t Need the Money
A typical art gallery often displays the permanent collection of dead artists. Even then, some of our most celebrated artists lived simply and only gained recognition for their work after their deaths, often decades later. From Van Gogh, to Claude Monet. The value of artists continues to be a debate, with artists often earning below minimum wage. Creative Debut is a global platform that champions emerging artists and allows them to sell their work, and their plea to “buy art from living artists. The dead ones don’t need the money” is printed across T-shirts and merchandise as a symbol to change the narrative on the value of art.
Fashion Stole My Smile
Victoria Beckham wore this t-shirt to combat the criticism of her never smiling, especially since she made the career transition of popstar to fashion designer.
Although Beckham later explained that the meaning behind her T-shirt was a joke, with a counter T-shirt that said “Im smiling on the inside” being released, the words can ring true over the past decade of fashion as more emerging designers and professionals speak out about the industry's poor practice - from unpaid interns in the city to recognising garment workers in factories.
Off-White and Streetwear Revolution
The late Virgil Abloh gained widespread recognition as the founder of the fashion label Off-White. In an interview with GQ which honed in on his obsession with graphic tees, he said “To me, graphic T-shirts are the most important and most expressive format for a designer or a person. Your taste in graphic tees says a lot about your point of view.”. Admitting to having an insane amount of Tees and being inspired by the skateboard scene, street style and brands including Supreme and Bianca Chandon; as well as being a collector of genius slogans found in concert merch (and pretty much anywhere else).
The beginning of Abloh’s career is a statement to the power of simple print. His label, Pyrex, began with the brands name printed on the back of Ralph Lauren’s cotton Flannel shirts which was worn by artists from Kanye west to the Asap mob.
The brand became synonymous with streetwear, featuring bold graphics, industrial belts, and the iconic quotation marks. Off-White played a pivotal role in the streetwear revolution, blurring the lines between high fashion and street style.