Be inspired by bold and eccentric “fashion tribes” in 10 very different countries.
Fashion subcultures around the globe express themselves in astonishingly creative ways, from Burmese punk rockers to Mexican pointy boots. These counterculture “tribes” are united by their passion for experimental styling, which visually demonstrates their rejection of social norms.
Members of style tribes wear outlandish outfits to express empowerment, rather than—as “normcore” dressers may assume—for the shock factor. Some, like Bolivia’s indigenous cholita or China’s rural shamate, dress flamboyantly to stand up to social oppression. Others, like Japan’s Victorian dollies and Congo’s dandies, draw upon past aesthetics to build a novel style that reflects their values.
Take a look beyond the sartorial surfaces, and unravel the meaning behind 10 of the world’s most imaginative fashion subcultures.