Missoni brings human rights against Trump and divisions to the catwalk

The fashion show for the new collection had just finished when Angela Missoni took the microphone and went up onto the catwalk. Not to say thank you or to say goodbye, but to relaunch her fight for human rights.

“I feel the need to recognise that at a time of uncertainty, there is always a bond between us that makes us strong and confident; this bond unites those who respect the human rights of every person,” she said, before she invited everyone to “come onto the catwalk with me and my family,” to show “the world that we’re united and that we’re not afraid.” These few, strong words were followed by dancing to the tune of Patty Smith’s People have the Power.

The message was made even stronger by what everyone attending the event found on their chair, a pink woollen hat, like those used by the “pussyhat project” during the marches against the policies of Donald Trump, which have become the symbol of the fight against the marginalisation of women and in support of human rights. The movement was put into the spotlight of the fashion week by the Missonis, on the insistence of Angela.

During an interview with the newspaper La Repubblica, the designer explained that “the images of all of those women who had taken to the streets touched me very much. I started to wonder what I could do to contribute. And I decided that my fashion show should be an opportunity to say that the fashion industry is against any kind of abuse and against anyone who is not in favour of minorities. Because we have to say it loud, [and] I’m fortunate enough to have an audience that can hear me.”

All information about the movement can be found (in English) on the Pussyhat Project website, where you can also discover how to take part in the next global initiative, scheduled for 8 March.