BALACLAV-ING
Chances are you have never heard of the word Ba-la-clava. Upon discovering what it was, you probably said, “Oh, it's a ski mask.”
I did.
Balaclavas are the newest PPE gone wild. They are uni-dressing, face-covering and winter wear all rolled into one.
City Girls/ Twerkulator
Y2 Project
Balaclavas got their name from the headgear British troops wore in the Battle of Balaclava in the town Crimea where troops fought in 1854. So although Gen Zers are using this term, it actually is not new.
Balaclavas have been popping up on runways since 2018 but we can thank TikTok for their current popularity. (The #balaclava hashtag has 141 million views.)
Click here to watch video history
Credit: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Minimize maximalism.
Fashion is! Function. This is not going away.
Consumers want everything in their lives to do the most while minimizing their consumption.
CHALET CHIC + ACCESSORIES THAT DO IT ALL + COVID PREPAREDNESS
=
BALACLAV-ING
Matek Clothing / The Yes
@blancamiro
SIP Trayvon Martin
Not without controversy, the commerciality of head coverings has traditionally marginalized groups clapping back.
Specifically, Black men and Muslim women have been vilified - or killed- for wearing hoodies, ski masks, or burkas for their intended purpose: a head covering.
I hope with fashion normalizing head and face masks we can eradicate the fear of them.