In a daring fusion of fashion, justice, and visual storytelling, Nigerian filmmaker and activist Ijeoma Okochi-Agwu is set to release her latest short film, Wardrobe on Trial, on November 25, 2025. The premiere intentionally aligns with the global campaign 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (November 25 – December 10), reinforcing the film’s urgent social message.
This provocative courtroom drama tackles one of society’s most deep-rooted and damaging beliefs: that clothing choices can imply consent or justify harassment. Through a bold and stylised narrative, the film places society itself in the dock, interrogating long-standing myths surrounding fashion, victim-blaming, and bodily autonomy.
Set within an imagined courtroom, the story unfolds as a defendant argues that a person’s outfit can communicate sexual intent. The case becomes a symbolic trial of public opinion, pushing viewers to confront their own biases and challenge the toxic logic often used to shift blame onto victims rather than perpetrators.
“I wanted to create a space where the logic behind victim-blaming could be examined and dismantled; not with rage, but with reason,” Okochi-Agwu told BusinessDay. “The film doesn’t scream. It questions.”
Wardrobe on Trial continues Okochi-Agwu’s growing body of work at the intersection of fashion, film, and activism. She has led campaigns against rape culture using clothing as both symbol and protest.
Her work has consistently used visual media as a means to educate, disrupt, and mobilise. Whether through documentary photography, digital campaigns, or short films, Okochi-Agwu is known for centring marginalised voices and challenging societal norms with empathy and nuance. She often draws inspiration from personal stories, survivor testimonies, and the complex politics of self-presentation.
In a time when conversations around bodily autonomy, gender expression, and consent are gaining global urgency, Wardrobe on Trial arrives as both a cultural critique and a call to action. By premiering during 16 Days of Activism, the film aims to ignite conversation, both online and in curated screening venues, around gender, safety, and self-expression.
The short film will be available via Okochi-Agwu’s digital platforms and select screening events, where post-film discussions and community panels are also planned to deepen public engagement. Educational toolkits and conversation guides are expected to accompany the release, offering resources for schools, advocacy groups, and social justice organisations.
Ultimately, Wardrobe on Trial dares audiences to look beyond the fabric and into the systems of power and perception that shape our responses to gender-based violence. It doesn’t just ask what we see; it asks why we see it that way.
