Glitter, Fashion, and Protest: The Power of Wearable Activism

This essay explores how fashion–particularly glitter–serves as a powerful symbol of political expression and protest, from LGBTQ+ activism in the U.S. to the Glitter Revolution in Mexico.

Fashion serves as a powerful tool for expressing identity, including political beliefs and collective interests. Throughout history, garments, hairstyles, and accessories have been used to make political statements. Through color, material, and cultural references, fashion allows individuals to signal their support for (or opposition to) societal issues, transforming wearable symbolism into meaningful expression and action.

Our monthly theme for February, “Fashion, Race, and Politics,” explored how the clothes we wear—and how we wear them—send political messages across history and cultures. One notable element of political fashion is the use of glitter. Beyond its stylistic appeal, glitter has been used as an expression of identity, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community. From drag and camp aesthetics to protest tactics like glitter bombing, glitter remains a powerful and multifaceted symbol of resistance and expression.