The recent sale of Banksy’s stab-proof vest for £780,000 ($1 million) at Sotheby’s, London on 9th October, achieved more than double its estimated value of £300,000.

Originally worn by British rapper Stormzy during his groundbreaking performance at Glastonbury in 2019, this vest carries an emotional and cultural weight that transcends its material composition.

What makes this sale all the more significant is not just the skyrocketing price but the deeper message that resonates through the vest. Banksy took a former police-issue garment—designed for protection—and transformed it into an artistic commentary on the contradictions of British society.