The Commodification of Camouflage

Camouflage is a dye pattern that was initially made to disguise the bodies of soldiers during combat, so that they could stealthily attack on opposing armies and protect themselves from opposing forces.

Now in fashion…

After WW1, couturiers of Paris observed the pattern and turned them into abstract patterns for womens clothings to symbolize the modernity that came along with the first industrial war. Around the 1940s, it became popular for hunters because it was tough and cheap material. The 1970s utilized the pattern in a punk rock and anarchist way.

Today it is a trendy pattern. Teens through young adults, both male and female, wear “camo” clothes for the cool look and trendy appeal. I highly doubt that those who wear camouflage stop to think about the history of the pattern and what it stands for. I have never really thought it all the way through myself. It has become such an integrated pattern in our modern society that it has been able to dissassociated with the army men who wear it on a daily basis as a uniform. Fashionable girls and guys probably do not feel like they are wearing a military costume at all. It is no longer used to make a statement or to be symbolic or anarchist or anything. It has become just another pattern, such as animal print, floral print, etc.

Wouldn’t it be weird to wear police clothing or firemen clothing out in the world and not feel a bit weird for appropriating their designated apparel?

US border patrol are often caucasian males in full military attire, but they do not need to camoflauge themselves against attacks. They wear it to instill fear into those trying to cross the border.

Some countries such as Barbados, Aruba and other Caribbean nations have strict laws that prohibit camouflage clothing from being worn by non-military personnel, including tourists and children

Many people are traumatized just by seeing this pattern because of what they associate it with-war and protection from attacks.

Read more: http://commons.emich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1167&context=theses