Maria Grazia Chiuri’s debut collection for the house of Dior, saw the words “We Should All Be Feminists” splashed across the front of a white T-shirt – a bold statement coined by Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. At the Fall 2017 ready-to-wear shows, Alice + Olivia followed suite, sending models out sporting a plain white tee with bold lettering that read “Be The Change You Wish To See In The World”; Meanwhile, Prabal Gurung’s catwalkers – including Palestinian-American model Bella Hadid and Sara Sampaio – marched down the runway sporting black and white tees featuring phrases such as “This Is What A Feminist Looks Like” and “The Future Is Female.” Championed by models, street-style stars and celebrities including Karlie Kloss, A$AP Rocky, and Kendall Jenner, the new crop of powerful slogan T’s are inspiring us to wear our politics on our sleeves this summer.
Moroccan-Dutch designer Soufiane Ahaddach is known for his T-shirts with socially minded statements like “Equality,” “Child Should Play Not Suffer,” and “Don’t Speak Hate Speak Love.” He has gained a loyal cult of fans that includes influencers, editors, celebrities, and royals since the launch of his eponymous brand last summer. “Female empowerment is and has always been important. But in the past it has been a very difficult subject to talk about, let alone stand for, which is just crazy,” says the 26-year-old to Vogue Arabia. “After all, it is a woman who raised you and put you on this earth. How can we be so ungrateful towards them?” he asks.
Ahaddach, who counts Rei Kawakubo and Federico Marchetti as his inspirations, is an advocate for human’s rights, supporting foundations that stand for the wellbeing of women and children and hopes to make a difference with his clothing. “Fashion is a tool of empowerment, and I use my designs to spread a message and influence change,” he says.
Press the refresh button on your wardrobe with our edit of five simple tees with a powerful statement in the gallery ahead.
9 Ways to wear the Dior shirt
