Regalia of the Women's Social & Political Union

Purple, white and green sash, worn by Agnes Kelly at suffragette demonstrations and processions. On both top & bottom of the sash is a narrow purple band on the outer border, followed by a band of green and then a broader central band of white on which is stamped 'Votes for Women'. First seen at Woman's Sunday held on 21st June 1908 the regalia or sash soon became an essential part of the 'suffragette uniform'. The Votes for Women's newspaper urged suffragettes to wear the sash to all public events and gave instruction that 'the regalia will be worn over the right shoulder and will be fastened under the left arm'. The purple, white and green colour scheme of the suffragettes was devised by Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence in 1908. She described the symbolism of the colours as follows: 'Purple as everyone knows is the royal colour. It stands for the royal blood that flows in the veins of every suffragette, the instinct of freedom and dignity...white stands for purity in private and public life...green is the colour of hope and the emblem of spring'.