An Interview With Jayna Zweiman, Founder of the Pussyhat Project Inspired by the Women's March

It all started when Krista Suh decided to act on her passion for gender equality, and travel to Washington D.C. for the Women's March. In order to prepare for the chilly East Coast weather, she knitted herself a hat — but not just any ordinary hat. The beanie made out of pink yarn and featuring two cat ears, turned into a widespread movement to take a stand against Donald Trump’s bigotry. Along with her friend, Jayna Zweiman, the two women launched the "Pussyhat" project with the hope that people across the nation would start knitting. And they did: over 60,000 women have joined the movement, wearing and distributing "Pussyhats" — and they're just getting started. One of the movement's founders, Jayna Zweiman, spoke with Teen Vogue about the Pussyhat project, the brand's post-march plans and the role fashion will play in politics during Trump's administration. Read on for our exclusive interview.

Teen Vogue: What was the inspiration behind starting the Pussyhat project?Jayna Zweiman: Krista and I were inspired by the pro-women’s rights language of the Women’s March. The project came from a mix of wanting to create something meaningful for the march and making that process of creation inclusive. The Pussyhat Project has two parts: 1. Creating a sea of pink hats at the Women’s March to make a bold and powerful statement of solidarity, and 2. Giving people who will not be able to march — whether for medical, financial, scheduling reasons — visibility, and a way to support the marchers and women’s rights.

TV: How did word about the Pussyhat Project Spread?JZ: We took a second to work out exactly what we wanted the project to be, including the framework for the platform, how we were going to create the community, and what we were going for. Kat Coyle, an owner of a great local yarn store called the Little Knittery, created the pattern for the hat. Kat was essential in spreading the word among the knit community, which is very tight. We started our social media presence early on, using Ravelry, a knitting social media platform, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. And it really started resonating with people. A few different publications helped to widen the reach and it continued gaining momentum as people started to wearing the hats.

TV: What are you hoping to achieve with the hats during the Women’s March?JZ: Choosing to be part of this project means choosing to be part of a project where thousands of women are supporting, representing, and standing up for each other.

We had a few goals in mind when starting the project and they’ve evolved since then:

1. To create a strong visual image at the Women’s March that is distinctive from other marches.
2. To create a way for people, who might not have been politically active in the election, to participate in the political discussion. No matter who you are or where you are, there’s a way to be a part of this project.
3. To give an outlet for people who won’t be at the march to support the marchers. When a marcher marches, she or he will be representing not only themselves, but also the maker of their hat. Also, with each hat that a knitter knits, we ask that she includes a note to connect with the marcher and share her perspectives on women’s rights issues. Imagine a sea of pink where each pixel represents both a marcher and her hat maker!
4. To create communities on a local level, to prepare people for political activism in the future, and to empower people to know that there are many ways for people to be politically active.

TV: What do you hope to change about the way that the word “pussy” is used in society?JZ: I would like the word “pussy” to become de-stigmatized. The feminine is often denigrated and we aim to change that. It is a loaded term and we hope to shift its use towards one of empowerment. I hope women and people across the spectrum, when wearing pussyhats, feel a sense of empowerment and solidarity, understanding it as a symbol for women’s rights.

TV: How have women reacted to your movement so far?JZ: Many people, who have had different reasons for not being able to march, feel incredibly excited to do something constructive, thoughtful, and politically active. We’ve had pregnant women, who can’t travel to DC, express happiness for doing something for their future child. We’ve had people with chronic illnesses, who feel grateful for this opportunity to be represented. What we hear is “I might not be able to make it, but my hat is marching for me,” and I believe that’s a powerful thing. We have also heard from many people that the Pussyhat Project has helped them with depression and anxiety. Knitting is scientifically proven to be similar to meditation. The bonus is that at the end, you have created something. For many, the Pussyhat Project is the first politically active step some people have ever taken. Participating in this project is a way to take positive action.

TV: What is the process of knitting a hat like and how can our readers get involved?JZ: The process is really exciting: a knitter knits a hat, which he/she can learn how to do that from the patterns/videos we have up on our website, or he/she can go to a knit-along or knit party (people are really open to teaching). We’re asking that when you knit a hat, that you also include a note to the marcher. This creates a tangible way for the marchers to connect with the knitters who can’t attend, creating this huge global connection during the march. When you’ve made your hat, and you’ve written your note, you’re ready to go: you can either give it directly to a marcher, drop it off at a drop site, or you can find a marcher through social media, I guarantee you someone is going to want it. Our DC collection site deadline has passed.

If you want to wear a Pussyhat for the Women’s March, but don’t have one yet, we’re going to have a distribution point in Washington DC Saturday morning and we will also be distributing from a point very close to the start of the march. And you can follow us on twitter for day-of logistics at @pussyhatproject. Readers can also make and wear pussyhats after the march. The Women’s March is just a step in the lifelong fight for Women’s Rights.

TV: On the eve of a Trump presidency, what role can fashion play in politics?JZ: I would say that fashion is political. The idea of a solidarity cap is firmly rooted in history, and this is an opportunity for the Women’s March to have a clear symbol of something that really broadcasts an idea that women’s rights are human rights, and you don’t even have to say a word. I think fashion shows the zeitgeist, and can be a powerful tool to express one’s self. As more pussyhats are being created, the strength of their symbolism is growing.

TV: What are your plans after the March?JZ: We have a few things up our sleeves. We are asking that people who are marching with Pussyhats to hold onto their Pussyhats for future activism, and also wear them around town. The movement is already expanding to local marches, and on Friday night, we had a “knit for your local march” night, so that people who didn’t have the chance to send hats to DC will have the opportunity to do that. Will the project expand to other female empowering accessories? I would say stay tuned for that one.

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