Hoda Katebi is a dynamic Iranian-American writer, activist, and the visionary founder behind Blue Tin Production, the first worker-owned apparel manufacturing cooperative in the United States run entirely by working-class women of color. Born on January 27, 1995, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Katebi has emerged as a fearless advocate for garment workers' rights, ethical fashion, and a powerful voice against imperialism, surveillance, and militarism. She is reshaping how we think about clothing, identity, and justice.
Early Life: A Journey of Resistance and Resilience
Raised in Oklahoma City by Iranian immigrant parents, Hoda Katebi faced adversity from an early age. As a young Muslim woman wearing a hijab in a largely non-Muslim community, she encountered discrimination and hostility, including physical assaults from classmates attempting to remove her hijab. These formative experiences sparked a lifelong commitment to challenging injustice and championing marginalized voices.
At the University of Chicago, where she graduated in 2016 with a degree in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Katebi began using her voice to dissect the intersections of fashion, politics, and identity. It was here that her journey as a writer and activist truly took off.
Writing and Activism: Amplifying Silenced Voices
In 2013, Katebi launched JooJoo Azad (meaning “Free Bird” in Persian), a bold online platform dedicated to critiquing fashion, culture, and politics from a fresh, unapologetically Muslim perspective. Her sharp, insightful essays on Muslim identity, racial politics, and the hidden exploitation in global fashion supply chains quickly garnered attention. She also maintained a “Boycott List” of fashion brands linked to human rights abuses, urging her readers to make more ethical choices.
Her 2016 book, Tehran Streetstyle, offered an eye-opening glimpse into Iran's vibrant underground fashion scene, challenging stereotypes about Iranian society and women. This publication was a springboard for her ever-growing influence as a cultural commentator and activist. Her writing has been featured in prestigious outlets such as Vogue, The Washington Post, and Columbia Journalism Review.
The WGN Interview and the Birth of a Global Movement
In February 2018, during a live interview on WGN-TV about her book, the conversation took a turn to American foreign policy. When questioned if her criticism of U.S. military actions made her “sound un-American,” Katebi’s swift and confident reply, "That's because I've read," went viral. This moment of resistance resonated worldwide, sparking the creation of #BecauseWeveRead—a radical global book club with chapters on every continent. The club fosters discussions on anti-racism, anti-capitalism, anti-imperialism, and other critical social issues while organizing actions like protests, poetry slams, and prison book drives.
Blue Tin Production: Redefining Ethical Fashion
Driven by her commitment to justice, Katebi founded Blue Tin Production in 2019, a worker-owned cooperative that provides a revolutionary alternative to sweatshop labor. Operated by refugee and immigrant women, Blue Tin Production champions radical transparency and ethical production, offering designers an option that aligns with social justice values. The initiative has gained international acclaim, with features in major media such as Vogue, The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Chicago Tribune.
In her efforts to expose hypocrisy in the fashion industry, Katebi coined the term “Revolution-Washing” in 2017, highlighting how brands falsely market themselves as progressive while continuing to exploit cheap labor. She has traveled globally, including a delegation to Indonesia, where she met with workers in fast-fashion factories producing for companies like Nike, H&M, and GAP.
Abolitionism and Anti-Surveillance Advocacy
Beyond fashion, Katebi is a staunch critic of surveillance programs like Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) and has campaigned against police militarization. She identifies as an abolitionist, advocating for the dismantling of systems that oppress marginalized communities. Her activism spans continents, and she regularly conducts workshops on the War on Terror, anti-Muslim racism, and other critical issues, inspiring resistance and solidarity worldwide.
Recognition and Impact: A Changemaker for the Future
Hoda Katebi’s tireless work has not gone unnoticed. She has been honored with numerous awards, including:
- The Pioneer Award by the Chicago Foundation for Women
- 20 In Their 20s by Crain's magazine
- Leaders for a New Chicago by the Field Foundation
- 40 under 40 by the National Iranian-American Council
Continuing the Fight: Educate, Mobilize, and Empower
Today, Hoda Katebi continues to break boundaries and build bridges across cultures and communities. Whether through her writings, her work with Blue Tin Production, or her global book club, she is redefining what it means to be an activist in the 21st century. She is a relentless advocate for ethical fashion, social justice, and the dismantling of oppressive systems, inspiring countless others to join her in the fight for a more equitable world.
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