Thinking Allowed
Dress Culture
Mar 11, 2025
Fatima Rajina, a Senior Legacy in Action Research Fellow, discusses the evolving dress norms among British Bangladeshi Muslim men, particularly the thobe's role in shaping a universal Muslim identity. Teleica Kirkland, a Lecturer at the London College of Fashion, reflects on the Windrush generation's deliberate fashion choices as a means of asserting dignity in British society. Their dialogue uncovers the complexities of identity, respectability politics, and how clothing serves as both a cultural expression and a vehicle for unity amidst societal scrutiny.
28:39
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Quick takeaways
- The Windrush generation utilized fashion to assert their identity and challenge negative stereotypes while navigating societal acceptance in Britain.
- British Bangladeshi Muslim men's clothing choices, like the thobe, reflect a blending of tradition and contemporary identity within their cultural context.
Deep dives
Cultural Representation through Clothing
The Windrush generation used clothing as a means of cultural representation when arriving in Britain. Newly arrived Caribbean individuals aimed to present themselves in a manner that was consistent with the British ideals they had been exposed to, wearing their best attire to convey respectability. This included styles like tailored suits, shiny shoes, and well-groomed hair, which were intended to contradict prevalent stereotypes about black individuals. The contradiction arises, however, as these stylish appearances often masked feelings of trepidation and uncertainty about their new lives in Britain.
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