So what is it about the slogan or protest T-shirt that's become integral to giving a platform to women's rights? I spoke to Dennis Nothdruft, head of exhibitions at the Fashion and Textile Museum, which is currently running 'T-Shirt: Cult - Culture - Subversion', who not only gave me a brief history of the protest T-shirt, but also why they're so impactful. 

"Plain white T-shirts were originally co-opted by the likes of James Dean and Marlon Brando who wore them as outerwear [they used to only be worn under shirts so this was a subversive thing to do]. But it was in the '60s where T-shirts became political. Young people were able to screenprint slogans and the T-shirt became a billboard to protest. Then of course people like Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm Mclaren came along in the '70s and used T-shirts to shock and offend people. After that it was Katharine Hamnett of the early ‘80s with her bold slogans that championed causes such as Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament."

However, when it comes to why the protest T-shirt is so impactful, Nothdruft puts it incredibly succinctly: "Their strength is their ubiquity. We advertise how we want to be perceived. And a T-shirt allows you to do that without being confrontational."  

I decided to speak to the women who are currently creating and wearing protest T-shirts, what it means to them, as well talking about the women's rights issues that matter to them right now. From the iconic Katharine Hamnett to Tennessee Thomas, who runs the Deep End Club, these five women have something to say both on, and off, a jersey crew neck... 

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from Celebrity Style and Fashion Trend Coverage | http://bit.ly/2eWeYDN http://bit.ly/2FC8gmC
via Who What Wear

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