Did We just Reclaim the 'Protest Power' of Ripped Jeans?
Shashwati P
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India is talking about ripped jeans and knees. Recently, women across India posted pictures and selfies in ripped jeans on social media. Some even cut holes into their jeans before posting defiant images. This, was in response to statements made by one Chief Minister of State.
He said he was travelling and, on the flight, there was a woman with two children who was "wearing boots, jeans ripped on the knees, and had several bracelets on her arm". "You run an NGO, wear jeans ripped at the knees, move about in society, children are with you, what values you will teach?" he asked the public later at a press conference.
Denim - the favorite punching bag of Indian patriarchs who routinely blame the fabric for the moral degradation of youth - now back in the news. And women responded. There was quite a storm.
Ripped jeans often associated to punk, actually has a much unknown to many, political history. Ripped jeans were associated with the working class who couldn't afford to buy new jeans. The cuts and the incisions over the jeans were made as mark of anger towards society. This came to be seen as political movement. It was used as a symbol to fight against status quo and conservative form of government. The denim then became one of the main targets for the politically fueled deconstruction. Especially with both men and women wearing torn jackets and jeans adorned with pins and slogans.
The ‘ripped’ trend came much later. Although a subculture phenomenon, by the 90's the trend became very popular and were accepted by a wide variety of cultural influences thereby cementing its place as a mainstream fashion piece. Madonna among other celebrities popularized the trend, and soon fans started following the trend. Hence, a political expression of anger and protest turned into a fashion trend. With its wide acceptance, the ripped jeans' political past became muted as its appeal grew to more people.
The Chief Minister comments are archaic and out of sync with what values are or what they mean. Also, am sure that he is totally unaware of its history and its political linkages of rebel and protest against suppression but in his ignorance, he does seem to have added potency and vigor to the old symbol. For now, it does seem that India has reclaimed the protest power of ripped jeans.