Cover Image from (“Praying,” Adidas, Addison Rae, 2022)
The fashion industry has never been more competitive. It seems like every day a new brand emerges from the depths of hell (AKA they create an Instagram account), and posts a trash sweatsuit mock up. Everyone wants to be the next Virgil, everyone wants to be like Rick Owens, but nobody can thread a sewing machine. Nobody can even screen print, they just outsource their mockups to Bangladesh.
Most recently, I've been seeing, “Christian Friendly Streetwear” brands. Most of these brands are just blatantly ripping off Cactus Plant Flee Market, and their collaboration with Kanye West for his, “Jesus is King” album rollout. They're throwing the crucifix and bible quotes all over t-shirts with obnoxious back prints. It’s way too niche. No company will ever stock your brand simply because it segments a huge section of the market. If a person of different religious faith walks into Urban Outfitters, they are not buying your John 3:16 t-shirt no matter how fire it is.
Now it might just be me, but I feel like the whole concept of streetwear is indirectly anti-religion. Streetwear, as you already know, is a ready-to-wear sector of fashion used to express one’s self daily. Religion barriers so many forms of self-expression, especially in fashion. No nail painting, no revealing clothing, no blasphemy, wear this, don’t wear that. Looking at every streetwear brand, you can pull a piece that is totally sacrilege. Here’s some examples:
- Supreme’s FW17 collab with Andre Serrano’s “Piss Christ”
- Chrome Hearts x Matty Boy “Sex Records” or Chrome Hearts “Fuck You”
- Literally anything ERD
- Vetements “Sexual Fantasy”
- Praying’s Whole Motif
There’s way more hypocrisy that I won't get into because I don’t want to come across as anti-religion, but I’ll just say if you’re manufacturing your clothes overseas, God has a bone to pick with you.
Another thing I keep seeing is the Nike Tech Thobes, and in isolation I don’t have a problem with this what so ever. I see the fashion aspect in religious clothing, and if you want to make your religious attire more comfortable, go for it. My personal hate for the whole Nike Tech suit trend is a separate topic.
In conclusion, is there room for religion in streetwear? I don’t care, I’m a hater of everything so I’m not equipped to answer this dilemma. Nothing is original anymore. I don’t like hypocrisy, and exploiting overseas labor for your tacky clothing brand is just annoying. I just think it’s as corny as every other vintage themed clothing brand.
*cough* *cough* Hellstar.
Gluttons, let me know what you think.
