What we wear also affects how we feel about ourselves. Studies show that clothing can impact confidence, mood, and performance. This phenomenon, known as “enclothed cognition,” explains why people dress up for interviews, wear gym clothes to feel motivated, or choose outfits that reflect how they want to be seen.

In this sense, fashion not only reflects identity but also helps shape it internally. It allows people to become the best version of themselves—or to try on new versions until they find one that fits.

Fashion has always had a place in activism. In the 1960s, the Black Panthers wore leather jackets and berets as symbols of empowerment. In the 2010s, pink pussyhats at women’s marches became viral symbols of resistance. Today, slogan T-shirts, Palestinian keffiyehs, and protest fashion all play a role in shaping the visual language of social justice and solidarity.

Through these choices, clothing becomes a canvas for values, belief systems, and collective identity.