TOMMY ROBINSON: THE WRONG PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT CLOTHES

The ‘Unite The Kingdom’ protest, arranged and led by the far-right founder of the English Defence League, Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley Lennon), was one of the most talked about political events across the UK in 2025. An estimated 110,00 people marched through the streets of central London carrying flags of England while expressing their hatred for immigration.  

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A logo worn by many protestors and Robinson himself was that of the Italian fashion brand, Stone Island. 

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A famous star and compass overlaid on a button-cloth badge founded in 1982, the design frequently appears on Massimo Osti’s clothes. I started getting into fashion in my early teens, and I instantly fell in love with the way Stone Island portrays its new arrivals, which are often referenced through football and music. Sharp, serious and respected. 

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With examples of how symbols can become contested, the question that should be asked is how fashion easily absolves itself from the hierarchies it helped create in a capitalist market. Fashion has always been the primary way to show class and power in society, but when those symbols are worn by the ‘wrong people’, the system becomes hijacked. 

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Historically, subcultures in the UK have been associated (sometimes inaccurately) with right-wing politics. Most famously skinheads, who celebrated multiculturalism and working-class pride, would wear Dr. Martens and Fred Perry. Over the years the public began to affiliate the group with the National Front as the subculture fragmented, giving such brands a political affiliation.

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The far-rights’ taste in fashion remains mutual to others as a disguise. A symbol like the Stone Island badge touching on football culture can make it attractive to extremists, indicating what Professor Miller-Idriss says is “a new camouflage capable of hiding political messages” and being repurposed as a “code of pride”. It’s the perfect strategy to fit into different groups. 

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These fashion tactics are undoubtedly apparent among working-class subcultures, as we see more of the working class support people like Tommy Robinson, who wears brands like Stone Island to build the image that he is ‘one of the people’.It is one of the many ways groups form exclusive political alliances to move away from the traditional broad-based party politics, creating a game of identity politics.

Stone Island and other luxury brands aren’t ‘owned’ by the far-right, however. The brand is renowned for their luxury and experimentation with materials, but it is also at the heart of authentic UK subcultures and street styles.

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From celebrities like Spike Lee and Liam Gallagher who famously rep the Stone Island badge, to Football manager Pep Guardiola, who in the past year has worn CP Company each match for Manchester City as their sponsor, such recognisable brands are still a positive cultural phenomenon within streetwear. 

Guardiola, who in recent months has shown his support for the people of Palestine, has been known for supporting underrepresented groups; highlighting the difference in the values of the individuals representing these brands.

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Stone Island’s distinct identity remains prevalent in the UK. It’s a uniform with a badge of honour that streetwear and football fanatics continue to wear to show appreciation for the culture it was born into. However, brands cannot fully control who wears their clothing or the circumstances in which they are used. As fashion will continue to be used as a political tool, we must listen closely to the voices masquerading the brand.