Denim Day grew out of a 1998 Italian Supreme Court decision that overturned a rape conviction because the victim wore tight jeans. The judges reasoned the victim’s tight jeans meant that she had to have helped her assailant remove them, implying consent. People all over the world were outraged, and wearing jeans became an international symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes and myths surrounding sexual assault. Peace Over Violence, a nonprofit organization in Los Angeles led by Patti Giggans, organized the country’s first Denim Day event in 1999. Under POV’s leadership, Denim Day LA & USA has grown into a national movement. In 2011, more than 2 million Americans participated in Denim Day.

In the spring of 2010, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center's Start Strong Bronx (SSB) program launched Denim Day NYC at the invitation of their Los Angeles grant partner, Peace Over Violence who originated the event. SSB partnered with the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence, the Violence Intervention Program, Sanctuary for Families, Bronx Family Justice Center, the NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault and the Bronx Borough President, who hosted their press conference and rally on the Bronx Courthouse steps. Concurrently, the Crime Victims Treatment Center spearheaded efforts to raise awareness in hospitals in all five boroughs. CVTC brought together SAFE programs to hold tabling events in the main areas of the hospitals, accessible to all patients, visitors, and staff. Following the 2010 rally, SSB, St. Luke’s Roosevelt, and the Alliance held the first city-wide press conference at City Hall presided over by the Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and City Council Member Julissa Ferreras and supported by all five borough presidents. Since then, our press conference is now attended by over 45 community-based organizations and dozens of elected officials.