At London Fashion Week, designer Conner Ives showcased a t-shirt with the slogan ‘Protect the Dolls,’ igniting discussions on trans rights and creating a viral fashion trend.
Conner Ives, an American-born designer based in London, made a notable statement at his fall 2025 runway show during London Fashion Week in late February. He closed the show wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the slogan “Protect the Dolls,” a phrase that resonates within the LGBTQ+ community, particularly as a term of endearment for trans women. This act was a deliberate homage to the late designer Alexander McQueen, who famously wore a shirt with the phrase “We Love You Kate” in 2005. By stepping onto the runway in this shirt, Ives communicated solidarity and support for trans lives, stirring significant attention within the fashion industry and beyond.
The t-shirt’s impact quickly transcended the fashion show where it debuted. Within hours of Ives’ appearance, the shirt gained viral status as a must-have item, particularly after it was worn by pop star Troye Sivan during the Coachella festival. Sivan, alongside Charli XCX on stage, donned the cropped version of the shirt, matched with stylish double-belted 032c jeans and Dr. Martens boots. This moment sparked a surge in demand, leading to Ives selling over 200 t-shirts almost immediately following Sivan’s performance.
In addition to Sivan, the t-shirt was spotted on various celebrities, enhancing its appeal within the pop culture landscape. Pedro Pascal, known for his roles in popular series such as “The Mandalorian,” wore the shirt while celebrating his 50th birthday with fellow attendees, including renowned trans DJ and producer Honey Dijon. Pascal’s connection to the t-shirt came through his stylist, Julie Ragolia. Furthermore, just days before that event, designer Haider Ackermann and actress Tilda Swinton posed together wearing the t-shirt. Ackermann received his shirt from his partner, Justin Padgett, who also serves as Ives’s publicist.
The viral popularity of the “Protect the Dolls” t-shirt has not only established it as a fashion statement but also as a fundraising initiative for trans rights, raising tens of thousands of dollars in support. The confluence of celebrity endorsement and the urgency of the message encapsulated by the shirt has made Ives’s offering a significant cultural artifact, drawing attention to the ongoing struggles faced by members of the trans community while simultaneously establishing a new summer fashion trend. As the t-shirts continue to gain traction, Conner Ives’s runway moment is evolving into a larger conversation surrounding identity, support, and visibility in fashion and society.
Source: Noah Wire Services
