Manspreading…

the practice whereby a man, especially one traveling on public transportation, adopts a sitting position with his legs wide apart, in such a way as to encroach on an adjacent seat or seats.

Did you even know the existence of such word?! I googled it allright… But the actual feeling that goes with it is quite familiar to me. This pressure when a man is sitting next to us and taking up our vital space; physically or/and socially.

Mina Bonakdar and Elena Buscaino decided to do something about it. The fashion and graphic designer students at Universität der Künste Berlin had a great idea for a quiet yet effective riot against toxic masculinity. They invite us to choose our favorite pair of pants and give it to them to print the following messages :

• STOP SPREADING

• TOXIC MASCULINITY

• GIVE US SPACE

  …….on the pant’s crotch!

So whenever you decide to stretch your legs a feminist message is revealed. A great way to make yourself visible, your annoyance communicated while having a sence of humor as well. The pant itself becomes a means of protest. The place of the print is radical and two dimensional; you can choose either to hide or reveal it however you feel like. Even when hiding it, a sence of empowerment kisses your genitals….

In a world that denies equal rights to womxn and queer since forever and in an industry that lacks ethos and representation, projects like that are really promising and refreshing. Fashion has the power to transform and is radical in its core…so why not become a tool for activism?

Credits :

for more information concerning the project clik here and here. Also you can buy a riot pant here.