Women's March: We asked ten people why they felt empowered wearing a pink 'pussy' hat

Some were knitted at home, others were bought from a shop. Many were pulled down low, others rode at a jaunty angle.

They ranged in colour from the pale hue of smoked Scottish salmon, to the hot acid tones worn by lycra-clad joggers.

More than 500,000 people surged onto the National Mall to take part in the Women’s March on Washington. A good proportion of them were wearing pink “pussy” ear hats - a sartorial rebuke of Donald Trump’s notorious comments captured on video about grabbing women by the genitals.

Organisers had asked those taking part to wear such a hat, to make an eye-catching statement. Knitting patterns were posted online for those who wanted to make their own.

The project, which was launched by Los Angeles-based Krista Suh and Jayna Zweiman, was intended to give the marchers “a unique collective visual statement which will help the activists be better heard”.

But what to call this sea of pink of hats that swept into the centre of Washington on Saturday, the day after Mr Trump’s inauguration?

The Independent asked ten marchers to suggest a collective noun for the hats, ideally a word that summed up or symbolised why they had flown in from across the country to take part in the march.

Nicole, who lived in DC, said she was taking part to stand up for people’s rights. And she liked the sense of being present in such numbers. She suggested “a power” of pink hats.

Caila Hendrick, from New York, who said it was important for the world to know that people are were watching what Mr Trump, also liked the feeling of strength. She proposed a “force of pink hats”.

Agnes Kearnon, 58, said she had come to try and ensure vulnerable people were protected. “A protection of pink hats,” she offered.

Ashley Rodriguez, a 26-year-old sales officer from New York, said she had come to fight for equal rights for all. “A revolution of pink hats,” she said.

It was not just women who took up the call to get kitted out. Erick Wilson, 52, from Massachusetts, had even knitted hats for himself and his family.

He suggested that by wearing them, people were showing they stood together. “An inspiration of pink hats,” he said.

Natalie Erlendsen had flown in from Colorado to take part in the march. The 34-year-old who works in marketing, said it was important to take part to pressure Mr Trump to act in the intents of all Americans”.

After a few minutes thought, and with an allowance for grammatical elasticity, she said all the head wear should be called “a bite-back of pink hats”.