1O
Issue 80 / 2015
FASHION
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Fashion timeline: slogans
From punk to dance, all musical genres and cultures have been referenced with a slogan tee, as have the pressing social
and political issues of the day. Slogans on your clothes give you a voice, and that carries immense power as well as being
a bit of fun. It's a trend that's not going anywhere, so say it loud and say it proud with slogans on your tees and on your
sweats
1977 – Vivienne Westwood creates the "DE-
STROY" tee – one of her most controversial items
of clothing – featuring a Swastika, Christ on the
cross and Sex Pistols lyrics. She said the shirts
were about challenging the older generation.
1984 – Wham! wear the now iconic
"Choose Life" shirts in their 'Wake Me Up
Before You Go-Go' video. The tees were
designed by Katharine Hamnett to fight
drug abuse and suicide.
1990s – Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth
sports "Girls invented punk rock not
England" tee. The Riot Grrrl was all
about empowering women.
2003 – Katharine Hamnett makes a
statement at LFW by sending models
down the catwalk wearing "No War,
Blair Out" t-shirts.
2006 – Henry Holland turns the
slogan tee into something
tongue-in-cheek. His acid bright
shirts poked fun at the industry
by saying things like "Do Me Daily
Christopher Bailey".
2009 – Hudson Mohawke nods to dance
music's drug culture with Fly53's "Ketamine
– Just Say Neigh" tee.
2010 – Annie Lennox
wears a "HIV Positive" tee
on American Idol – one of
many occasions – to show
solidarity with those living
with AIDS.
2014 – The Fawcett Society collaborated
with Whistles and Elle UK on the "This is
what a feminist looks like" shirt, worn by a
range of celebrities.
2015 - Blackscore created the "Lady
Garden" jumpers to get people talking
about gynaecological cancers. The
sweats sold out in Topshop in just a few
days.
2015 – Bono continues to rotate his collection
of coloured frames, just as he has always done
and will always do.
