Ahead of the US elections in November last year we looked at propaganda designs throughout the decades and at "Vote" merchandise. But Inauguration Day is approaching and now trends have switched onto this event.
On 20th January Joe Biden will officially become the 46th President of the United States and Kamala Harris will be Madam Vice-President, the first woman to cover this role in American history. Hopes and expectations are high, even though the siege that took place ten days ago on Capitol Hill, Washington DC, by violent rioters incited by President Trump (an event that brought about the second impeachment of Trump), created concerns by security regarding the Inauguration.
Safety (FBI confirmed there are still threats of attacks against federal institutions as Trump vowed never to concede defeat) and the Coronavirus emergency prompted organisers to opt for a scaled-down event.
Inauguration will take place on 20th January at 11am ET (4pm GMT) on the US Capitol grounds and it will mainly be an online event (it will be livestreamed on the Presidential Inaugural Commitee social media channels), while anyone participating will have to wear masks, respect social distancing and go through temperature checks. Trump confirmed he will not be attending the Inauguration (he is the first president in more than 150 years to do so; the fourth in American history); the outgoing vice-president Pence will instead attend. Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez are expected to perform and the event will be followed by a prime-time program featuring Ant Clemons, Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato and Justin Timberlake among the others. The theme of the event, according to the Presidential Inaugural Committee, centers on "America United". Biden won the November presidential election, but, in accordance with the 20th amendment of the US constitution, the terms of the sitting president and vice-president end at noon on the 20th day of January. This period of time allows the previous president to complete remaining administrative tasks and prepare the transition. The inaugural oath taking ceremony marks the official beginning of the new presidency.
This year the inauguration will also be anticipated by a nationwide Covid memorial for the victims of Coronavirus (over 385,000 died in America at the time of writing this post) and cities and towns will light up their buildings and ring church bells on 19 January in remembrance.
Fashion-wise there is a lot of interest about the designers Kamala Harris and Dr. Jill Biden will choose for Inauguration Day (for her husband Barack Obama's 2009 Inauguration, First Lady Michelle Obama opted for a lemongrass wool lace shift dress with matching overcoat by the late Cuban designer Isabel Toledo), but if you want to join in the Inauguration trends, you can do so via the "Believe in Better" collection, available on the Presidential Inaugural Commitee Store.
Quite a few designers representing the American fashion scene already produced signature merchandise in support of the Biden-Harris ticket in September.
At the time these items invited people to vote, but now the "Believe in Better" collection (made entirely in unionized American factories) features items, among them Gabriela Hearst's tie-dye sweatshirt, Proenza Schouler's American flag T-shirt, and Thom Browne's scarf, that prompt people to be optimistic and hopeful.
In quite a few cases the designers opted for messages of unity: Roxanne Assoulin beaded bracelets spell out "Come Together"; Joseph Altuzarra and Thakoon chose the "Unity over division" motto for T-shirts and scarves, while Prabal Gurung celebrated diversity in his "Future Stronger in Color" T-shirt. Other designers such as Aurora James of Brother Vellies printed or embroidered on their garments and accessories the number 46 - in honour of Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States. Sure, a T-shirt or a pair of socks may not change the world or our collective mood in very difficult times for the entire world, but maybe one day they will be used as special pieces, mementoes marking a moment of transition for America from darkness into a brighter future.
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