WeeklySA_AdminPolitical Statement: When the clothes on your back speaks more volumes than words as depicted in the men’s collection which debuted at Pitti Uomo recently
By Mpumi Brown
World-acclaimed fashion designer Viviene Westwood once said: “I just use fashion as an excuse to talk about politics. Because I’m a fashion designer, it gives me a voice which is really good.”
Westwood is considered as one of the most unconventional and outspoken fashion designers in the world. And, from the look of things, it seems 26-year-old fashion designer Thebe Magugu draws his inspiration from her.
Magugu is slowly earning himself the title of a designer known for powerful and politicised women’s wear collection.
He says his inspiration comes from the social complexities of his home country.
In his latest collection titled “Doublethink” Magugu says his inspiration came from Mandy Wieners’ book, “The Whistleblowers“ which he used as inspiration.
“Doublethink”is a term coined in George Orwell’s seminal novel “1984”, which is defined as the act of simultaneously accepting two mutually contradictory beliefs.
“Corrupt politicians are conscious of the truth, while telling carefully constructed lies the art of knowing and not knowing,`’ says Magugu.
He says his menswear collection, which debuted at PITTI UOMO, looks at corruption and the whistleblowers who challenge it.
“In many ways, the societal ills we wrestle with stem from the insidious actions of its leaders. In South Africa, we have regularised the daily tales of missing millions and economy-controlling families,” says Magugu.
He has chosen to shine the light at the plight of whistleblowers in South Africa, in the hope of advocating for a change in legislation, organisational support and social attitude.
“This started the collection’s strong western influence, which explores the idea of Black Hat Bandits and White Hat Heroes,” he adds.
The collection offers various suits in dark green, blue and grey checks as well as abstract political art prints. It has knee length coats worn with three quarter cowboy boots. Each look is given its own monotonous colour with one fully green from head to toe – green tie, shirt, bag and coat which may symbolize money. One of the coats has deep red hand stains below the pockets which could easily be interpreted as blood on the politicians hands.
Whether you believe in the idea that fashion and politics coexist in the same space is neither here or there however, designers like Westwood and now Magugu use clothes or fashion to send messages that speak strongly to the wearer’s disposition.
Dressing with meaning and standing for something either political, social or environmental is the reasons why you should double think about what you wear.
