Influence of Politics on Fashion

Shubham Anil Jain
Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited
Bangalore, India
Email: [email protected]

Introduction:
We all have a tendency to evaluate someone based on their clothing because it’s the first thing we see when we meet them. Fashion has the ability to make a visual statement and convey a message without using words. “What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts are so quick,” Miuccia Prada once stated. Fashion is spoken in an instant. Politics and fashion have a complex and interconnected relationship. Fashion has the potential to be a powerful form of self-expression and can reflect social, cultural, and political ideologies. This statement by Miuccia Prada is more significant than we can possibly realise in the political sphere on a global scale. People dress a certain way to express themselves or to support a cause.

Impact of Politics on Fashion:
Politicians resemble binary figures more than style icons. They are required to follow rules and wear uniforms. However, politicians must present a particular persona and set of values. Politicians from all over the world have chosen to dress in a way that communicates their philosophies or views in an effort to evoke an emotional response and build relationships with supporters on a local and cultural level. They laboriously refine their style in order to uphold their values in society. Their appearance supports their message. From Kamala Harris in the US to Narendra Modi in India, all have remained steadfast in how they express their convictions.

The style of many Indian leaders make a statement, or even a belief declaration. Here are a few significant and well-known examples.

Narendra Modi:
The entire world looks at him when he dresses. A class of kurtas and jackets has been dubbed “Modi,” and brightly coloured cashmere shawls worn over sharp suits are in style. Trends include wearing khadi, and occasionally ditching the pocket square in favour of a Mont Blanc pen. Even those who are uninterested in politics have been unable to overlook the country’s Prime Minister, who is donning his Movado watches and rimless Bvlgari glasses. One can call it absolute elegance or a mark of profligacy.

Omar Abdullah:
He wears his clothes with a local flair while maintaining a distinct sense of style. The Kashmiri pheran can ride in the front seat without him being terrified. From a pathan suit with a gilet on top to a trench worn with bandhgalas, sherwanis, and the standard navy suit.

The Gandhi Family:
This family has a history in both politics and the fashion industry. From Rajiv Gandhi’s introduction of dark sunglasses, sneakers and sleeveless fleece jackets paired with khadi kurta-pajamas to Nehru Ji’s iconic Nehru Jacket and a khadi cap covering his forehead.

While Indira Gandhi stepped out wearing delicate Banarasi saree, rose-colored Tanchois, and new handlooms. Sonia Gandhi also wore basic handloom saris made of Khadi material, while Priyanka Gandhi is known for being extremely adventurous with her fashion choices. She displays the best of both worlds, wearing everything from a sari to casual blouses and bottoms.

Those of Thackeray:
The three Thackeray generations each have their own distinctive approach to stirring up the feelings of the audience. The audience from Maharashtra who wanted to work in an urban office was the target audience for Bal Thackeray’s earliest portrayal of the shirt and trousers of the urban office worker. Later, though, he gave up that look and began dressing in orange to support the Hindutva cause.

Bal Thackeray’s son and former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray, has always worn a simple, bright-colored sadra-pajama that is intimately associated with the Maharashtrian people. Aaditya Thackeray, however, wears a combination of traditional and contemporary clothing. The nation’s younger people can relate to him better.

Few politicians in India yell out a message of simplicity like Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal do. Common folks identify with Mamata Banerjee’s iconic basic white cotton saree with a monochromatic blue border, her signature hawaiian chappals and Kejriwal’s muffler connects with common public.

Conclusion:
Fashion provides avenues for self-expression, particularly for wealthy individuals. When words have failed throughout the years, dress has saved the day. It’s safe to say that those in positions of authority influence those around them and spread their message. Political dressing is slanted clothing. All dissenters, including feminists, racists, antifa, patriots, and proponents of social justice, are equipping themselves to align their political ideologies.

References:

1. https://thecampanile.org/2018/02/20/passion-for-political-fashion-how-politics-impact-the-world-of-fashion-and-call-for-social-change/
2. https://textilevaluechain.in/news-insights/apparel-fashion-retail-news/fashionvaluechain/political-influence-on-fashion/
3. https://fashionlawjournal.com/influence-of-fashion-on-politics-the-power-of-political-dressing/
4. https://www.vogue.com/article/charting-the-influence-of-politics-on-fashion

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Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. He is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.

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