Affordable, Pop Art, and contemporary brands usually steer clear of political undertones, yet the current geopolitical landscape is reshaping the trajectory of fashion and the missions of brands. Enter Trashy Clothing (written as tRASHY).
Established in occupied East Jerusalem in 2017 by Shukri Lawrence and Omar Braika, this Palestinian label seamlessly melds kitsch, club culture, workwear, and sportswear with Arab pop influences, adopting a transnational perspective.
Lawrence and Braika are also inspired by traditional Palestinian embroideries and dress, borrowing from them not the actual motifs, but the possibilities these designs have to tell a story.
Their aim is to amplify the voices of Palestinians in mainstream pop culture, encouraging dialogue through each collection, where diverse cultures converge (illustrated for example by integrating the logos of major international companies in Arabic in some of their previous designs).
Debuting at Berlin Fashion Week in 2018, they made a bold statement by constructing a wall resembling the occupation wall in Palestine, symbolizing the physical barriers imposed on Palestinians.
Unfazed by the disruptions caused by the pandemic, the duo relocated to Jordan in 2020, orchestrating the Cyber Fashion Week (CFW), a virtual extravaganza that intersected fashion, music, photography, art, and performance on an international stage.
Even before the Israel-Gaza war started last year they had to sort out challenges posed by shipping companies, as Israeli companies confiscate items deemed political, including prints and symbols representing Palestine.
The self-proclaimed identity of the duo is rooted in creating garments for unapologetically political, pop culture enthusiasts, individuals embracing campiness and rebellion.
Notable collaborations include the "Free Palestine" T-shirt and vest for the S/S 22 season with GmbH, while in their S/S 23 collection they included a garment without a slogan, but that still hinted at protest - the Shabab Al-Quds jacket was indeed inspired by Palestinian protesters being arrested and having their faces covered by the police so they couldn't be identified.
Also Trashy Clothing's accessories are suspended between the political and the kitsch: their latest accessory collection includes indeed earrings inspired by barbed wire or by the occupation wall and crocheted souvenir bags handmade in Jordan.
As they gear up to release the S/S 24 "Bourgeoisie, Mufflers, and Oil Vol.1" runway film at the end of the month (the new collection is inspired by Palestinian cartoonist Naji Al Ali), Trashy Clothing continues to infuse politics into pop, camp, and rebelliousness, challenging the conventions of affordable, contemporary fashion.
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