Fashion designers have long had a hand in politics. The designers who endorsed Senator Ted Kennedy’s fight for civil rights were themselves targets for assassination. There are many other fashion designers who have been targeted for their politically incorrect themes. When you consider all this history, it is no wonder that Fred Perry has decided to endorse Senator Ted Cruz for President.
Unfortunately, the iconic brand that gave America the “I’m Not Your President” campaign song, along with some of the most recognizable tunes of the sixties, has found its way into the political arena as well. In 2021 nothing is sacred, including clothing. In recent weeks, for instance, Fred Perry had to pull a black and white polo shirt off the market due to it being the official uniform of the Tea Party, a fringe political group associated with a Tea Party governor in Wisconsin. A Tea Party rally was planning to wear the shirt, but it was quickly replaced by a massive march on Washington, D.C., by Tea Party groups supported by Sarah Palin and other prominent Republicans.
It seems that the tea party does have staying power, and in these polarized times the far right and far left are locked in a fierce battle for the soul of America. The Tea Party is a coalition of mostly youthful, middle class, entrepreneurial people, and they are hated by the politicians, media, and Hollywood elite as they seek to reduce the size of the federal government, gut environmental protections, and control in social welfare programs. The Tea Party, which originated in the 1970s as a movement against the tide of liberalization, is now engaged in a battle against political correctness, intellectualism, and a bloated, ineffective bureaucracy. The conservative vision is much like the early days of the fabled roper “Uncle Joe.”
The brand name, which is also used for polo shirts worn by British soldiers during the Boer War, is an acronym for United Prosperity Front, and there is a British regiment called the Queen’s Own Yorkshire Dancers. It is also a popular brand with skinheads and neo-Nazis who adopt it as a symbol of white power and as a way to identify themselves as members of a group. It is also an adopted symbol of Identity Politics, which tries to tie together various strands of ideologies.
A number of well-known designers have tried to cash in on theanedification trend by creating their own versions of a Fred Perry polo shirt. The most notable of these is Reebok, who has released a line of clothes based on the uniforms of the outfit. In keeping with the military styling of the time, the Reebok Core polos sport the company’s color green. The shirts come in two main sizes, and both are styled and designed to minimize the waist and increase leg wear. For this reason, they can be worn by people of all ages, although those with a bigger belly or larger thighs may want to size up. It is not advisable for pregnant women to wear the Reebok Core polo shirts, because they do not shrink down properly.
Other clothes in the brand include a hoodie, sweatshirt, baggy shorts, and a number of other garments. It appears that they are targeted mainly at kids, but judging by some of the designs and slogans, you would think that the designers take their designs seriously and want to reach out to everyone, regardless of age. Some of the items have said slogans that loosely translate into “All lives matter,” “Down with the Pigs,” and “White power.” There are also T-shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets bearing the logo of the late rap star; 50 Cent, who is of course a friend of rap icon DJ Pauly D, as well as several other well-known rappers.
The best aspect of these items aside from being hip and comfortable is that they are very affordable as well. The tennis polo shirt is priced at a mere thirty dollars, which is really a steal for what could be considered high quality apparel. Most department stores carry them, as well as boutiques and websites such as EBay. If you were looking for the real deal, you might want to try shopping at Fred Perry itself, as it is probably the most popular place to find these brands.
While the tennis outfit is a great addition to any wardrobe, it seems that the yellow polo shirt and the Fred Perry uniform are here to stay. You cannot escape the cultural influence of today’s youth, and these outfits seem to fit in perfectly with the image they are trying to project. Even those who reject the far right message behind the brand will still sport a similar outfit, because they are all about looking hip and trendy. The brands are here to stay, and soon we will look back and wonder how we lived without them.
