When I hear the name Katherine Hamnett I immediately think of the upbeat stylings of Wham! as George Michael wears a CHOOSE LIFE T shirt alongside Andrew Ridgeley as they sing in their “”Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” video. And who designed that political T shirt?
The aforementioned Katherine Hamnett.
A graduate of the famed Saint Martin’s School of Art, the British fashion designer is a pioneer of the political tee. Known for her bold, politically charged slogan T shirts and commitment to ethical, sustainable fashion, she rose to fame in the 1980s. She used fashion as a platform for activism and used streetwear style stamped with messages like CHOOSE LIFE and CLEAN UP OR DIE in bold black print.
She also paved way for socially responsible and sustainable fashion as well as environmental reform in the fashion industry, and fair trade practices. She continues her bold fashion activism work today. In February 2024, she publicly relinquished her Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) distinction in protest against the UK government’s support for the war in Gaza. True to her style she donned a tee with the words DISGUSTED TO BE BRITISH in her trademark font.
