Fashion Activism as a Tool for Social Change

Abstract

Fashion activism has emerged as a communicative practice through which fashion engages with social issues and community-oriented causes. Limited empirical research exists on how fashion activism contributes to community empowerment, particularly through participatory and institutional mechanisms in the Pakistani context. This explanatory, quantitative study employed a cross-sectional survey of 278 fashion students in Islamabad, using stratified random sampling and Likert-scale measures. Findings indicate that fashion activism initiatives significantly enhance community empowerment, with community participation acting as a mediator and institutional support strengthening this relationship. The study confirms that fashion activism functions as an effective medium for social engagement and empowerment when supported by participation and institutional backing. Fashion institutions should integrate activism-based projects and strengthen institutional support to enhance community engagement and empowerment outcomes.