Who would have thought fashion could be this dark and politically charged? At Paris Fashion Week, models strutted down the runway wearing clothes that looked like they just stepped out of one of the world’s harshest prisons – El Salvador’s infamous jail! Yes, you read that right. Designer Willy Chavarria, of Mexican-American descent, based his men’s collection on the uniforms worn by inmates in the notorious high-security prison called SECO, known for its brutality. And if that wasn’t enough, El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, couldn’t resist joking that he might send some of his prisoners to France – as soon as he gets the green light from the French government!
SECO isn’t just any prison. It’s a fortress in the war against criminal gangs that have terrorized the country for years. Bukele is famous for his harsh policies against criminals, and SECO is a symbol of his fight. Prisoners there are often stripped down, shaved bald, and kept in total darkness – a real nightmare.
This fashion show, where models knelt with their hands behind their backs, reminded many of the US administration under Donald Trump, which detained and deported migrants in a similar harsh manner. Bukele is actually a close ally of Trump, adding another layer to this complex story.
Is this just fashion or a political statement? Is it okay to use the brutality and suffering of prisoners as inspiration for a fashion runway? And what will France say about this? Drop your thoughts below – maybe you have a better idea of what hellish uniform might walk the runway next!
