Milan Fashion Week is well underway, and on Saturday one major house made an important statement—via its runway. Missoni sent more than 40 models down the runway wearing pink pussy hats, turning its runway into a women's march in the process.
Of course, we've seen these knitted pink hats with cat ears before: at January 21's Women's March, where marchers wore them in a grassroots show of support for women's rights. Since then, they've continued to be worn by activists as a symbol of solidarity.
On Saturday Missoni's show began with Gigi Hadid walking to "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"—setting a political tone from the very beginning. The show's notes also explained the political nature of the show head-on: "Angela Missoni communicates the femininity of our times, prepared to confront the conflicts and dilemmas of our contemporary society: the conditions, needs, and rights of all women and minorities."
"This is a protest collection," hairstylist Anthony Turner told Allure backstage before the show.
As the show wrapped, the models donned the hats backstage before marching down the catwalk for the finale. Missoni is famous for its knitwear, and the house added a signature touch to the rose-color hats with its classic zigzags and stripes.
Those invited to the show were given hats as well, and by the end, the entire venue was filled with guests wearing the pussy hats. Designer Angela Missoni got onstage to impart some powerful words: "I feel the need to recognize that in a time of uncertainty there is a bond between us that can keep us strong and safe," she said. "The bond that unites those that respect all human rights. Please join me and my family on this catwalk, and let's show the world that the fashion community is united and fearless."
Glamour editor-in-chief Cindi Leive Instagrammed Missoni's speech: "Listen as longtime supporter of women's rights Angela @Missoni—tears in her eyes and a runway of pink-hatted models behind her—turns her show into a women's march. ❤"
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Even better than the pussy hats is putting their symbolism to work doing good: Some of the sales from Missoni's collection will go to the ACLU and the U.N. Refugee Agency.
