Fashion Discussed in Cuba’s Round Table Program

Fashion Discussed in Cuba's Round Table Program
October 15, 2013
Warhol P.

HAVANA TIMES — A few days ago, Cuba's Round Table TV program addressed
the issue of what young people – and the Cuban people in general – wear
these days. It's true that the way some young people dress today is a
bit curious, but this is not a question of right or wrong: it's simply a
way of dressing different from what was in style in earlier decades.

I see many young people wear their pants low, beneath the waist, to
reveal their underwear. This is the era of tattoos and piercings, worn
on one's eyebrows, ears, tongue or bellybuttons. Many, including people
who are not so young, have become veritable living pincushions.

There's really nothing we can do about this. It's what's in fashion
these days. The eighties and nineties are behind us. Perhaps these new
fashions have flourished because we feel a little freer these days.

We feel free and we don't want anyone to tell us what we should wear, or
what music we should listen to, if it's music we're talking about.

Personally, I believe everyone is free to wear a piercing wherever they
wish to and to wear the clothes they like or is available to them (not
everyone can afford to wear good, new or elegant clothes).

As we know, everything in Cuba is expensive. This is especially true of
clothing, let alone shoes. Even recycled (used) clothing is sold at
ludicrous prices.

There have always been problems with school uniforms because young
people want to look good all the time. In this connection, I feel that
school uniforms should be worn properly.

That day, the Round Table was taking calls and a viewer phoned and,
among a number of other things, asked why the Cuban flag was used on
tank tops and T-shirts.

They didn't have an answer for this. The commentators chose to focus on
her other questions. Of course, they couldn't really touch on that
issue. Currently, the Cuban government is making quite a bit of money
selling printed images of the country's traditional symbols.

I recall that, years ago, anyone could have ended up at a police station
merely for wearing a T-shirt with any flag on it, be it that of our
worst enemy, or the Union Jack, to mention two examples.

Today, things have changed: anyone can wear a tank top with any image
they like and nothing happens. I am for that.

And what about Che Guevara? I believe his image is the one that sells
the most in our stores: a T-shirt with an image of Che Guevara printed
on it can cost as much as 10 Cuban Convertible Pesos, and it sells like
hotcakes.

We see the image of the legendary guerrilla on berets, coin purses,
cigarette lighters, ash-trays, wooden cigars, collars, earrings, etc.

Che Guevara must live on in our memory for ever so, in the process, he
can help boost our economy…don't you think?

Source: "Fashion Discussed in Cuba's Round Table Program - Havana
Times.org" - http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=99425