Sebastian Martin
palmettoreport@gmail.com

(Rock Hill, S.C.) — Students, faculty and staff at Winthrop University recognized Denim Day, an international event intended to raise awareness of sexual violence, with a fashion show, which was intended to show support for survivors and challenge narratives that blame victims.

Students walked down a runway wearing custom or upcycled denim outfits, which organizers said were intended to promote messages about consent, empowerment and advocacy for survivors.

The event, sponsored by the Winthrop Fashion Club and school’s wellness services April 9, attracted hundreds of people and was part of a series of events during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

“Denim Day is a movement of protest, with fashion, against sexual assault. It started originally, I believe in Italy, where a judge ruled that a sexual assault victim was liable for the crime because her clothes were too tight, too revealing,” said Logan Jackson, creative director of the Winthrop Fashion Club.

In 1992, the Italian Supreme Court issued a controversial ruling, overturning a rape conviction, that stated because the victim’s jeans were tight, she must have helped her attacker remove them, which the justices said implied consent.

Women in the Italian Parliament, who were outraged by the verdict, wore jeans to work the next day to show support for the survivor, which created an international movement.

“Denim Day is our way, it’s a national protest where everyone puts on denim in response to that,” Jackson said. “We’re actually having a resource fair as a part of the fashion show as well.”

Kevin Sheppard, Winthrop’s Title IX coordinator, said there are many resources available on campus to assist survivors.

“Denim Day here at Winthrop is a part of our overall campaign to provide prevention, education and awareness in regards to sexual assault, sexual misconduct and things of that nature,” Sheppard said. “Different offices across campus have partnered together as part of this event here, continuing to bring awareness to these type of things.”

Sheppard said it’s important for anyone who has been the victim of sexual assault to report the incident, so the university can investigate and provide resources to the survivor.

“We want to make sure we’re supporting and providing resources to individuals who may have suffered this type of behavior,” he said. “We always have our Center for Student Wellness. We have our counselors and therapists here on campus that we advise all (students) to please use those services.”

Sheppard also said campus police are available to provide escorts to students if they don’t feel safe traveling to their dorm, class or job on campus.

In February, Winthrop announced the 2025 Denim Day fashion show was recognized with an award — for efforts to improve campus security, crisis management and violence prevention — from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.

“The Denim Day Fashion Show reminded me that healing, advocacy, and creativity can exist in the same space. This event demonstrated how students, faculty, and staff can come together to spark meaningful dialogue, raise awareness, and create a space where students feel supported and empowered,” said Collins Cornwell, director of student conduct an organizer of the event, in a press release.

Organizers say the fashion show is about a lot more than simply wearing jeans or denim.

“It was more than a show…it became a movement,” Cornwell said.

“It is a national movement rooted in education, accountability, and survivor support,” said Itali Jackson, program coordinator for student advocacy and trauma support, via the press release.

Through the Denim Day Fashion Show, we engaged students in a creative and approachable way while grounding the experience in factual information and open dialogue about sexual violence prevention,” she said.

“On college campuses, there needs to be a lot of sexual (assault) awareness taking place,” said Isaiah Henry, president of the Fashion Club. “A lot of things happen on campus., so just bringing awareness to campus, I think that’s where it starts.”

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