Ollie Henderson (pictured in Start the Riot tee) with model friends, wearing T-shirts from her House of Riot project. Picture / Romain Duquesne
In the spirit of Katharine Hamnett, Australian activist and model Ollie Henderson (pictured second from left), is using fashion as a way to encourage political debate and awareness of issues such as climate change, the environment, racism, welfare, immigration, feminism and more.
Her project Start the Riot launched
at Australian Fashion Week earlier this year, with model friends wearing Henderson's T-shirts handpainted with political slogans.
Feminism is at the root of the project, which aims to raise political engagement and conversation among young people. Being catcalled on the street and subsequent debate on Facebook sparked the initial concept of using her position to encourage her peers and generation to stand up for what they believe in and use their voice.
What is your vision for The House of Riot?
House of Riot's aim is to empower young people to speak up and use their voice, by using mediums that they connect with - focusing on fashion now, but not limited to it. We want to foster empathy over apathy.
Do you think the world of fashion can sit comfortably with the ideas of feminism?
Yes, feminism is fighting a social and political issue and fashion is a visual form of communication and expression. There is the argument that the fashion industry uses people's insecurity for financial gain, but I don't really see it like that. I don't know one fashion designer who wants women to feel bad wearing their clothing, they want their women to feel powerful and strong. I see fashion as a really positive thing that gives people - designers, photographers, stylists and the individual - a platform for expression, with which you can express your views on feminism.
