Connie Britton Ditched a Golden Globes Gown in Favor of This Sweater With a Cause

The 2018 Golden Globes red carpet was filled with black ensembles as presenters and nominees alike stood together in solidarity with the TIME’S UP movement to support victims of harassment and abuse. While there were many standout looks to speak of, one attendee, in particular, took her activism one step further by bucking the formalwear altogether in favor of a simple sweater with a VERY important message.

9-1-1 star Connie Britton wore a “Poverty Is Sexist” sweater designed by NYC-based brand Lingua Franca, a brand now known for its bold statement pieces supporting gender equality and women’s rights. This particular custom-made top paid homage to one of the evening’s big themes of equality by giving a nod to ONE’s Poverty Is Sexist campaign, a movement which aims to “end extreme poverty” by breaking “down the barriers holding girls and women back” around the globe.

Though the 50-year-old’s Golden Globes look isn’t for sale, a similar piece from the brand’s TIME’S UP collection ($380) IS for sale, with $100 of its profits going to the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund.

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Hollywood sisters. Thank you for using your voices and platforms. $100 of each “times up” sweater purchase will go to the @timesupnow legal defense fund. You can order in any color by emailing us info@linguafranca.nyc. (Ps Who else is totally excited to watch these women strut down the red carpet tonight dressed in black, making a statement, standing together for each other, but also, for all women in all work forces? 🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏽‍♀️🙋🏾‍♀️ @goldenglobes) #timesup #handstitched #stitchedwithlove #whywewearblack

A post shared by Lingua Franca (@linguafrancanyc) on Jan 7, 2018 at 5:52am PST

Lingua Franca founder Rachelle Hruska MacPherson spoke to The Los Angeles Times about the poignant messages behind her designs, saying, “I never intended to put political statements on these sweaters. [But] after the election, the mood among our embroiderers was dismal, to say the least. We have [more than] 45 women sewing [the sweaters’ slogans by hand], all from diverse backgrounds, and many are immigrants to the US. I felt helpless; I think we all did. It became clear to me that we all have a voice and that we all can use that voice to make a statement.”

As for Britton, she explained why it was so important for her to use the red carpet as so much more than just a fashion statement in an Instagram post.

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Dressed in black and ready to go to the @goldenglobes earlier tonight with the glam squad dreams are made of. My sweater says "Poverty is sexist" and we dressed in black to acknowledge that it is time for all of us, men and women, to empower ourselves with equality. My hope is that this movement will now reach the grass roots, the small towns, the villages near and far, where women have been silenced, without resources, in the face of gender disparity. We are all stronger when we work together with respect and understanding. Strong women equal strong families, economies, and communities. Everywhere. So let's get this show on the road. #timesup #povertyissexist

A post shared by connie britton (@conniebritton) on Jan 7, 2018 at 4:55pm PST

“…We dressed in black to acknowledge that it is time for all of us, men and women, to empower ourselves with equality,” she said. “My hope is that this movement will now reach the grassroots, the small towns, the villages near and far, where women have been silenced, without resources, in the face of gender disparity. We are all stronger when we work together with respect and understanding. Strong women equal strong families, economies, and communities. Everywhere. So let’s get this show on the road.”

What do you think of Connie’s Poverty Is Sexist sweater? Tweet us @BritandCo!

(Photo via Nicholas Hunt/Getty + Lingua Franca)