You’ve seen the headlines. The most recent NYFW: Men’s and Women’s season came with a political edge as designers used the runway as a platform to make more than just fashion statements. Robert Geller was a prime example of this. At the finale of his show, he stepped out to take a bow wearing a T-shirt with the word IMMIGRANT emblazoned brightly across the front.

It’s a topic that personally resonates with the designer, who moved to America from Germany when he was 10. “I was totally welcomed and never felt like an outsider,” he recalled. But with the new administration, he has observed that such sentiments are shifting. “I feel like immigrants are being targeted and the tone became about them and us.” Geller decided to speak out, and moments before his runway show at NYFW: Men’s, his wife Ana painted the word IMMIGRANT on his favorite T. “It was a reaction to the frustration that had been built up,” Geller said. “It was meant to be a message of solidarity. I have a small platform and felt that I could use it. It’s turned into something much bigger and more wonderful than I could have imagined.”

Indeed, the shirt quickly caught the attention of the public and soon became an in-demand item. Geller responded by partnering with Grailed.com to sell the design and all profits go directly to the ACLU. “They’ve matched, dollar for dollar, the amount that we have raised for the American Civil Liberties Union.” So far, Geller has raised over $10,000 and is hoping that this is just the beginning. The T-shirt, which sold out during its first round of sales, will be back on sale as of Friday, May 5, 2017.

Geller has been sure to stay involved in this topic, recently attending the press conference held by CFDA and FWD.us to unveil a white paper on how particular immigration policies would impact the fashion industry. He hopes the dialogue surrounding immigration will continue to evolve. As he put it, “I would like the current conversation about immigrants to include the beauty of what they bring to this country. New York is incredibly diverse and that’s why it is my favorite place in the world.”