Superman has nothing on the 80s ballroom scene. These similarly cape-clad and tights-sporting superheroes’ “by-day/by-night” transformation involved a lot more than taking off a pair of dorky glasses. Rather, the late 20th century underground ballroom scene involved a largely black and latinx community of LGBTQ+ people gathering to transform into their billowed, feathered, studded and extravagant true selves. A forced by social convention to walk the city streets as a stereotypically straight-laced masculine man “by day” could indulge in glinting glamor, pearlescent luxury “by night.” Ballrooms spelled a necessary escape, where opulence, grandeur and self-expression could safely congregate. Members received no accolades or attention for their boundary-smashing efforts in self-exploration. On the contrary, prevalent themes in stories of the ballroom circuit are concealment and designated safe spaces for self-expression.
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With his futuristic and sustainable clothes, Offgod is a prodigious example of the next generation of fashion designers. His works are a fearless amalgamation of all his passions, unconcerned with sticking to one medium or aesthetic. They are informed by the environmentally disastrous industry around him, one that his 3D-printed clothing hopes to improve.
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At STITCH, we want to celebrate this Black History Month by highlighting some of the Black creatives and fashion lovers near campus. Between plant shops, bookstores, vintage resale boutiques and more, Chicago’s Black-owned businesses have artistic, unique finds for your closet and home. Use our list for your next shopping trip to support Black-owned stores this month and year-round.
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The weight, inexact and indispensable, haunts me after the holidays. I search for new diets and exercises—new ways to make water taste like Coke and to chisel my abs. Like the 17% of Americans vowing to lose weight in 2023, I’m always hungriest to achieve my idealized body this time of year, prioritizing it over traveling, learning something new or seeing friends and family more. The weight is a pitiful reminder that I haven’t met my resolution since I was 13.
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In honor of Valentine’s Day — and my newfound appreciation for perfume — I wanted to delve into the history of perfume and the science behind the well-known aphrodisiac
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I also faced a frightening sense of newness. Who am I, when I no longer possess the material items that constitute my identity? Is it possible to have a sense of style and a sense of self without my belongings? This caused me to consider the socioeconomic implications of fashion, as well as the freedom of expression that privilege and wealth provide.
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