Stage Talks with Bellingcat "Identifying Far-Right Fashion" with Bellingcat Researchers
Oct 24, 2025
This week, Bellingcat researchers Michael Colborne and Youri van der Weide dive into the intriguing world of far-right fashion. Michael discusses how clothing serves as a tool for youth recruitment and identity, while also revealing subtle symbols that help mainstream extremist views. Youri shares insights from his investigation into neo-Nazi merchandise linked to Russian paramilitary groups, uncovering connections through online records and public interactions. They both highlight the implications of reporting on these trends and provide resources for monitoring extremist symbols.
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Fashion As Identity Building
- Far-right fashion serves identity-building more than pure profit for many groups.
- Brands create culture and attract youth by offering lifestyle signals, not just clothes.
Plausible Deniability And Secret Handshakes
- Far-right apparel often uses plausible deniability and doublespeak to mask extremist meaning.
- Subtle symbols act as secret handshakes for insiders while appearing innocuous to outsiders.
Mainstream Brands As Recruitment Tools
- Far-right movements co-opt mainstream brands and subcultures to blend in and recruit.
- The same brands can signal different politics in different contexts, complicating detection.
