Graffiti is, by definition, a defiant act. From the point of view of the government it is vandalism. If a person is caught making graffiti on a public or private building or in a public place without special permission, he/she may be fined or punished by law. Throughout history this mainly impacted African and Latino Americans who began the Graffiti movement in the late 1960s tagging New York City subway trains.

But over the past 40 years, graffiti has proved to be much more than marginalized youths drawing on buildings. From its start in New York to its international explosion, graffiti has slowly invaded contemporary pop culture with everyone from Keith Herring to Banksy using graffiti art to push a social or political agenda.

Is it really surprising that in 2018 Alexander McQueen, a label known to look at subversive culture trends for inspiration, found a way to get Graffiti on the runway.

 

Alexander McQueen Spring 2019 Menswear Collection: