History of the Red Ribbon
Why a Red Ribbon?
The Red Ribbon is a well-known and recognized symbol in the fight against AIDS. The history of the Red Ribbon is quite interesting. With World AIDS Day upon us on December 1, it is important to understand what is behind this simple yet iconic symbol.
By the end of the 1980s, AIDS was impacting North America and resulting in the deaths of many. Although hugely impacting lives, there was little public acknowledgment in the forms of awareness and support. This lack of support and awareness needed to change. A small group of artists decided to do something to make a difference.
The Grassroots Beginning
A group of New York City artists banded together and began making art in response to AIDS. In 1988 this group began calling their collective Visual AID. They began creating awareness with art gallery shows and other public events. But perhaps their greatest impact was made with their tiniest piece of art – The Ribbon Project. This project resulted in the creation of the Red Ribbon we know today.
The inspiration behind the Red Ribbon came from a costume designer named Marc Happel. Happel had heard about the group’s search for a symbol, and his idea was influenced by the yellow ribbons he had seen tied around trees, in honor of servicemen in the Persian Gulf War.
Realizing that they could do something similar to acknowledge the war that was being fought against AIDS, he thought a simple ribbon that could be pinned to anything would work. The group then decided that the ribbon ought to be red — chosen for its “connection to blood and the idea of passion—not only anger, but love…”
And the Red Ribbon was created. It was attached to pamphlets and outreach materials. But its leap to fame came from a different source.
Getting the Red Ribbon on TV
The leap from artwork to iconic symbol came about through a unique way. The group used their connections to Broadway and convinced the attendees to wear the Red Ribbons at the Tony Awards. Although nothing was said on the Awards show as to why people were wearing them, the media resulting from this mystery went viral. Suddenly they were on the front pages of newspapers and everyone was talking. This was the exposure needed to get the word out. And from there, they never looked back.
The Red Ribbon Today
Today the Red Ribbon is an internationally recognized symbol of AIDS Awareness and as well as an iconic design that is used in different mediums that include art, print, jewellery and many more. The red ribbon originally evolved as an artist based activist project, yet its impact has been felt around the world as so much more. One of the decisions made by the Visual AID group was to not copyright the design so that anyone could use it to promote awareness.
In creating the Ribbon Project, the Visual AIDS Artists’ Caucus believed it was important to:
- Remain anonymous as individuals and to credit the Visual AIDS Artists Caucus as a whole in the creation of the Red Ribbon Project, and not to list any individual as the “creator” of the Red Ribbon Project.
- Keep the image copyright free, so that no individual or organization would profit from the use of the red ribbon.
- Use the Red Ribbon as a consciousness-raising symbol, not as a commercial or trademark tool.
By having this iconic symbol available to all, it continues to impact the world in a positive fashion in its ongoing fight against AIDS.