‘Strip the human race absolutely naked,’ Mark Twain wrote, ‘and it would be a real democracy. But the introduction of even a rag of tiger skin, or a cowtail, could make a badge of distinction and be the beginning of a monarchy.’
The clothes on our backs are the first stamp of difference. They are symbols of identity, yes, but also of status and wealth. From women in Iran and Saudi Arabia to trans kids throughout the world, marginalised communities are fighting for the right to dress as they please. But while clothing can separate us, can it also bring us together?
Last year, a YouTube video went viral with a portrayal of how Nordic people do their laundry. The clip depicts a blonde woman digging an ice hole before soaking dirty clothes in freezing water (and, for some reason, saliva). She then carries the clothes back to her cabin through flurries of driving snow.
The full piece is here.
Soula Emmanuel 