Is it okay to wear alternative fashion to protests?
Content Warning: The following article uses the term ‘queer’ in a reclaimed manner to refer to the LGBTQIA+ community as a whole.
Alternative fashion, by its nature, stands out from the crowd. Sometimes the extra visibility is useful to a grassroots movement, and sometimes it is unsafe, impractical, or disrespectful. For that reason, it makes the question posed by this article highly situational. To find the answer, there are a handful of other questions to consider.
Who are you advocating for?
Perhaps you’re advocating for yourself and your community, or maybe you’re there to stand in solidarity. The former are the voices that need to be amplified the most, so if that’s the group you fall into, then that’s a point in favor of alternative fashion. It can be a great way to draw attention towards what you have to say. If you are an ally to the movement, then it is best to tone down your outfit so that you don’t draw attention away from the people and cause you’re supporting.
What do the organizers recommend?
Sometimes the organizers of a protest have a recommended dress code. This could be to show unity, to respect cultures and traditions, to portray a positive image to the media reporting on the protest, or to ensure safety. Always check the recommended dress code. If it doesn’t disqualify alternative fashion, that’s usually a pretty good sign that wearing it is fine. If there is no dress code or you still aren’t sure, ask the organizers. They are usually happy to answer your questions provided that you are considerate, patient, and don’t make them do emotional labor. If they say no to alternative fashion, do not debate them. Accept it and move on.
What do people usually wear to these protests?
I know worrying about how everyone else is dressed opposes the alternative fashion spirit, but it is essential that you “read the room”. If the protest is a solemn occasion, people might wear darker colors and more modest clothing. Happy rainbows could clash with the vibe, and goth might come across as overdramatic. If the protest is angry (more so than usual, I mean), then a rebellious style like punk could be a great idea. If the protest is about love, acceptance, and visibility, then people are far more likely to dress up and show off. Pride marches are a perfect example of this.
Is it safe or beneficial to stand out?
It is unfortunate that some protests are riskier than others, especially when there is civil disobedience involved. The global Black Lives Matter protests have shown that police can pose a threat to even the most peaceful protesters. If a protest is expected to have high tension between the police and the protesters, do not wear alternative fashion. If a protest is expected to have any kind of violent push back, do not wear alternative fashion. If you intend to be on the front lines or participate in civil disobedience, do not wear alternative fashion. For your own safety, do not wear anything that could identify you in a crowd.
Now that we’ve explored these questions, I’m going to share some example outfits that I’ve worn to protests and how they helped me understand what to wear to each protest.
School Strike 4 Climate
This protest was a rather hot day, so I opted for something comfortable but something that also made me feel close to the cause. That’s why I wore my organic cotton dungarees and my battle vest with “ECO GIRL” painted on the back by my fellow sustainable fashion advocate, The Stitchess.
Who was I advocating for?
All of humanity, but at this protest, the focus was mainly on the school students striking.
What did the organizers recommend?
No recommended dress code.
What do people typically wear to climate protests?
Usually whatever is practical. If they’re school students, then often they’ll wear their uniforms. I’ve also seen people wearing their battle jackets and battle vests.
Is it safe or beneficial to stand out?
This protest was safe and since we were representing the diversity of people who want climate action, it can help to express who you are. However, many frivolous fashion styles can be quite wasteful, so if you want to go OTT, maybe don’t wear stickers or anything that is very visibly plastic. It comes across as hypocritical.
Conclusion
I can wear alternative fashion to this protest, but it is best to keep sustainability in mind.
Brisbane Pride March 2019
For my local Pride march (and the festival proceeding it), I wore rainbow-themed decora. This is because alternative fashion is an important form of queer expression for me as well as what connects me to the queer community.
Who was I advocating for?
Myself as an asexual, gender-queer/questioning woman in addition to my queer friends and family.
What did the organizers recommend?
I have no memory of the organizers recommending anything in particular, but they did have dressed up acts as well as Pride merch stores. Colorfully dressed people appeared in promo images as well.
What do people typically wear to Pride?
Pride is all about being visible and loud, to show the world that queer people of all kinds exist and cannot be ignored. People were wearing their rainbows, drag, gender non-conforming outfits, and more.
Is it safe or beneficial to stand out?
This depends on how privileged you are. As a white, feminine-presenting person, I felt quite safe. It also helps that it is normalized to dress up in loud rainbows at these kinds of events. The benefit is that queer fashion increases queer visibility.
Conclusion
I can wear alternative fashion to this protest and go as OTT as I like.
Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance - Black Lives Matter
This is the only example where I had to recreate what I wore because I did not take a photo of my outfit at the protest itself. As a kawaii fashion lifestyler who does not own enough normal clothing for a full outfit, dressing inconspicuously was a challenge but I did my best with what I had. Many Black members of the kawaii community have also said that they do not want to see non-Black people wearing alternative fashion at protests because it comes across as performative and disingenuous. A civil rights movement is not a photo op.
Who was I advocating for?
First Nations Australians and all the Black lives around the world that continue to be threatened by systemic racism and police brutality.
What did the organizers recommend?
Dress like you’re attending a job interview. Usually something smart casual.
What do people typically wear to BLM protests?
For the ones in Australia, usually whatever is practical. Shirts with slogans or symbols are common. In the USA where the protests originated, protesters wear black and hide their identities as much as possible to avoid being targeted by police or anti-Black extremists.
Is it safe or beneficial to stand out?
No. Though the protest was peaceful as planned, there was still tension between the police accompanying us and the protesters so things had the potential to escalate (which they did in Sydney).
Conclusion
I cannot wear alternative fashion to this protest.
Never Forget that Fashion Itself is Protest
You can (and should) use your fashion to advocate for social justice whenever you can, but it doesn’t always have to be at protests. You can use your fashion to fight for what you believe in on your social media, whenever you’re out doing errands, or even at j-fashion meet-ups. Support black and queer-owned brands. Mend and upcycle your old clothes. Fill your ita bag or decorate your battle jacket with buttons and pins sporting the slogans and symbols of resistance. Post cute coords on Instagram and then use the caption to direct viewers to resources linked in your bio. There is a time and a place for alternative fashion at protests, but it is always the time and place to bring protest into alternative fashion.