For many, 2017 has been a bag of mixed emotions because of the current political climate. But there were also some very important wins in the fashion community with many designers uniting for women's rights and equality during NYFW's Fall season.
Sports Illustrated featured stretch marks for the first time and Halima Aden modeled American Eagle's amazing denim hijab, proving that this year has had its share of inspiring moments too. Keep reading to have a look at this year's most empowering fashion stories.
During NYFW's Fall 2017 season, designers all over united to voice their opinions about the current political climate. From Prabal Gurung's collection of inspirational tees to Tommy Hilfiger promoting unity by having models wear white bandanas, designers made it a point to join the conversation.
Sports Illustrated made a bold move with its campaign featuring plus-size model Denise Bidot. The ads proudly showed Denise rocking a two-piece swimsuit that put her stretch marks on full display, featuring the tag lines "My Confidence" and "Inspired by #ThisBody".
This past award season, Lena Dunham was just one of the many celebrities who wore a Planned Parenthood pin while on a red carpet. At the Oscars, Emma Stone styled her stunning custom Givenchy look with a pin as well.
In a huge step towards inclusivity, American Eagle released its first-ever denim hijab. This head covering allowed Muslim women all over to get in on the denim trend without breaking any of their religious traditions.
Torrid announced that it will be showing at Fashion Week come September. While Cabiria Style was the first plus-size brand to show in the official IMG NYFW tents back 2013, this is still a huge win for the plus-size community. You can expect to see a whole array of cute, affordable clothes ranging from sizes 10-30.
One group of sorority sisters made it their mission to prove that nude isn't a one-size-fits-all shade. During Delta Sigma Theta's 10-year reunion in Costa Rica, each sorority sister posed in nude swimsuits of her choice. The group called powerful photo shoot "Melanin Illustrated," a play on Sports Illustrated.
In an effort to join the body-positive conversation, Target launched an amazing photoshop-free swimsuit campaign. All of the models proudly showed off their stretch marks and cellulite for the retailer's swimsuit collection.
This Muslim Miss Universe contestant made history when she refused to wear a bikini on stage. During the swimsuit portion of the Miss Universe Great Britain beauty pageant, Muna Jama became the first contestant ever to wear a caftan on stage.
For American Eagle's Fall 2017 campaign, the company decided against retouching its photos. The brand also made a powerful statement by casting a diverse group of models in its ads.
As a tribute to the Baywatch movie, Swimsuits For All came out with a new collection of inclusive swimsuits. The campaign featured Ashley Graham, Teyana Taylor, and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Niki Taylor all wearing the iconic red lifeguard one-pieces. The best part about the collection? The line ranges from sizes 4 to 22.
It's no secret why Feminine Funk's collection of body-positive tees went viral. The online retailer's apparel features body acceptance phrases such as "My thighs touch because I'm a mermaid" and "Big brows, big thighs, big hair, and big dreams."