Say it in style: The slogan tee is this summer’s must-have

By: 8 years ago

White cotton and linen t-shirt printed with “We Should All be Feminists” slogan; spring/summer 2017 collection. Image: AFP/Francois Guillot

Men and women can make a statement this season thanks to spring/summer 2017’s red-hot trend for splashing slogans, expressions, words and messages of all kinds across t-shirts.

Black t-shirt with printed “R.E.S.P.E.C.T” slogan by Prabal Gurung; fall/winter 2017 collection. Image: AFP/Francois Guillot

Although the trend has been developing for a few seasons, it was recently ramped up on the runways, first in response to the United States election, then to certain measures taken by the current U.S. president, Donald Trump. This has now filtered down to other designers and labels and to high-street brands.

Designer Floriane Fosso’s “From Paris To-Shirt” slogan t-shirt is made from organic cotton. Sales of the tee help support L’Auberge des Migrants, with 10 percent of sales revenue donated to the association, which supports migrants in Calais. Image: AFP/Francois Guillot

Models and fashion bloggers have been early adopters of this socially and politically conscious look, with many spotted wearing the now-famous “We Should All Be Feminists” tee from Dior. Prabal Gurung also revealed a series of t-shirts in the label’s fall/winter 2017 show with slogans like “I Am An Immigrant”, “Love Is The Resistance”, and “R.E.S.P.E.C.T”. These are already available to buy.

This label’s oversized poncho-cut “MAD 2” sweater combines the chicness of cashmere with the fun world of slogan tees. Image: AFP/Francois Guillot

Brands, designers and stores are all jumping on the trend for slogan tees, although not all come with politically-themed messages.

The Uniqlo x André Saraiva collaboration is bang on trend this season with a host of slogan T-shirts, often referencing New York and Paris, as well as the iconic “Monsieur A”. Image: AFP/Francois Guillot

In fact, the season’s slogans generally tend to have a humorous twist, often reworking well-known expressions. JB