Down Syndrome: Awareness Colors, Ribbon and Mismatched Socks

Colors do speak. When attached to a specific cause or entity; colors can immediately remind us of its anchor. This is the reason why colors are often used as part of awareness raising efforts. Blue and yellow are the colors used to raise awareness about Down syndrome.

Down Syndrome is a genetic chromosomal condition where a person is born with 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. According to the recent statistics 1 in every 700 babies is born with Down syndrome in the United States.

People wear blue and yellow awareness ribbons to express their solidarity with the people affected with Down syndrome.

Wearing mismatched socks is also used as a symbol of acceptance towards people with Trisomy 21 (another name for Down syndrome). These odd socks (i.e. a pair of socks that don’t match) are often blue and yellow in color/pattern. However it is not necessary.

You may be wondering why do people wear mismatched socks for Down syndrome? Well, it all started in 2013 when the initiative of wearing odd socks was taken by the organizers of the World Down Syndrome Day. The idea was to use socks because socks look like chromosomes. Organizers wanted the show of a lot of socks because people with Down syndrome have an extra copy of the chromosome-21.