Stylish “Vote” Merch: Caps, Cashmere, and Tees That Send a Message
We have exactly two weeks to go until the 2020 presidential election. If you haven’t checked your registration status, requested an absentee ballot, or made a voting plan yet, check out our guide to voting safely this year. If you’re all set, and you’re looking for other ways to make a difference before November 3rd, you’re in the right place. This election season, designers, artists, and community orgs are taking a fresh approach to campaign swag. Instead of your starchy, run-of-the-mill tees, there’s a plethora of stylish merch available, from retro “dad caps” to cozy cashmere sweaters and delicate gold-plated rings by the likes of Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, Aurora James, Clare V., and Thakoon. Some of the items in this list constitute a direct contribution to the Biden Victory Fund, and others help funnel money to nonpartisan get-out-the-vote initiatives like I Am a Voter and When We All Vote. Consider this your guide to nailing your election day outfit and helping motivate your community to make their voices heard.
The Biden/Harris campaign collaborated with a number of American designers, including Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, to design their own chic takes on election merch. The proceeds from this flag t-shirt go directly to the Biden Victory Fund.
To raise funds for When We All Vote—the voter participation initiative founded by Michelle Obama, Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Chris Paul, Faith Hill, and Tim McGraw—the team at Dover Street Market reached out to artists and designers in their community to create a line of 100 percent charitable merch. This arty shirt by photographer Ari Marcopoulos is one of the best of the bunch.
Throw these socks on under a pair of cropped trousers to show your commitment to two essential actions at once. All net proceeds go toward When We All Vote.
Fifty percent of the proceeds from this playful, gold-plated ring go toward When We All Vote.
Marc Jacobs also worked with DSM on a WWAV piece. This screen-printed sweatshirt combines Marc’s signature aesthetic with a simple message.
The purchase of this low-key, chic “dad hat” counts as a contribution to Vote.org, a technology resource dedicated to simplifying political engagement and increasing voter turnout, particularly among underserved voter communities, young people, and people of color.
For every one of these shirts sold, Tory Burch will donate $40 to I Am a Voter, a nonpartisan initiative that aims to increase voter participation nationwide.
Another Biden campaign collab, this Thakoon crewneck sweatshirt has a casual vintage streetwear vibe—the kind of piece that will still look cool a few years down the line, like a Bernie sticker on the back of an old Subaru.
The New York-based cashmere brand Lingua Franca is donating 10 percent of the proceeds from their cute “Vote” collection to Higher Heights Leadership Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening Black women’s leadership capacity and civic participation.
Brother Vellies designer and 15 Percent Pledge founder Aurora James designed this 70s-esque cap in support of the Biden Victory Fund.
A crossbody bag strap may be an unusual form of election gear, but it’s also a highly visible one. This elegant option from Clare V. helps raise money for I Am A Voter, a non-partisan movement that aims to create a cultural shift around voting and civic engagement.
Add a little California cool to your voting look with this funky hoodie from Staud. Ten percent of all sales will be donated to Fair Fight, the voter advocacy organization started by Stacey Abrams.
This graphic tote bag is one you’ll be sure to bring out every November—plus, $25 of the proceeds from each bag will go to I Am A Voter.
The progressive PAC Downtown for Democracy invited a group of artists (including Kim Gordon, Rashid Johnson, and the Haas Brothers) to design a shirt to fund-raise for voter-turnout-boosting media buys in swing states. This Barbara Kruger edition is a pointed reminder of what’s at stake with the next supreme court justice nomination.
