Celia Melendez, manager and buyer at Magpie Industries in Somerville, shows off some advocacy items Tuesday at the Davis Square shop โ€“ and wears a cap with its own message.

Clothes arenโ€™t just clothes in our cities, theyโ€™re conversation starters, statements, even battle cries. At farmers markets, art openings or City Council meetings, what people wear speaks volumes. Expect to see union-made tees, pins advocating for various causes, denim jackets covered in protest patches and bold screen-printed statements from local artists. Here, style and values are deeply entwined. A beanie might support a community-run radio station. A canvas bag might be stamped with mutual aid slogans. This isnโ€™t about branding, itโ€™s about belonging. For many residents, dressing up is a way of standing up. Even muted palettes and vintage staples carry weight when worn with purpose. In a city that embraces individuality and activism, fashion serves as a form of peaceful protest, accessible, personal and constant. Somerville in particular proves you donโ€™t need a megaphone to make noise. Sometimes, a hand-dyed hoodie with the right message can say everything you need.

A stronger

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