I recently came across the clothing brand CHNGE while scrolling on Instagram. I saw one of their advertisements featuring clothing with politically and socially relevent messages, so I clicked on it and started looking through their website. They sell a variety of clothing, including sweatshirts, t-shirts, baby tees, tanks and other pieces featuring messages about immigration and other current issues.
What really caught my attention was that CHNGE uses some of their clothing collections to raise money for organizations supporting immigrants. For example, their immigrant focused collection states that 100% of the profits are donated to immigrant defense efforts, including the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. Their website also says that they have donated more than $1.25 million overall through their various fundraising efforts.
I thought this was really powerful because it shows how fashion can be used as a form of activism. Instead of activism only happening through protests, petitions or social media posts, people can use something as simple as what they wear to communicate a message and support a cause financially. Clothing can become a way for people to express their beliefs while also helping bring attention to issues that they care about.
Additionally, I think the fact I discovered CHNGE through an Instagram advertisement makes it especially relevant to political movements today, as a lot of them get their start or gain attention and traction through online platforms like Instagram or TikTok.
I would also like to look at the larger trend of fashion being used to make political and social statements. Recently, clothing, accessories and other fashion choices have been used by people to publicly communicate their opinions on issues such as immigration and ICE.
Another example of using fashion as a form of protest or activism is when last year, in 2025, people, including celebrities and influencers, were sporting plain white t-shirts with the words ‘Protect The Dolls.’ These shirts, originally made by London designer Connor Ives, were a response to new rulings made by the UK Supreme Court that harmfully affected the trans community. All profits from these shirts made by Ives were donated to Trans Lifeline, a US-based charity offering emotional and financial support to trans people.
I think CHNGE is an interesting example of this intersectionality because the clothing is not only communicating a message, but certain collections are also directly raising money for organizations connected to the cause.
Overall, it’s important to highlight CHNGE and other companies and movements like it and how brands can combine fashion and activism. It’s interesting to look at how something like everyday clothing can be used to spread awareness, encourage conversations and financially support organizations working on important issues.