🇯🇲 Article Review – Reggae Cultural Movement
“How Reggae Style Influences Fashion Today” by Karissa Mitchell (ESSENCE, 2025)
Reviewed by Reggae Cultural Movement
1. Introduction & Compliment
In her vibrant and deeply observant piece, “How Reggae Style Influences Fashion Today,” writer Karissa Mitchell explores the powerful influence of Jamaican reggae culture on global fashion. Mitchell’s writing honors reggae not just as a music genre or regional sound, but as a worldview—one that has shaped identity, style, resistance, and innovative design across generations.
Her piece brilliantly traces reggae fashion from Kingston’s grassroots to today’s high-fashion collections, demonstrating how the spirit of reggae continues to inspire designers across the African diaspora and around the world. Mitchell writes with respect, celebration, and cultural clarity—qualities that make this article stand out as a valuable cultural snapshot.
2. Summary of Key Insights
Mitchell highlights several timeless pillars of reggae fashion and shows how they continue to shape modern design:
● Reggae Style Is More Than Fashion — It’s Freedom
Reggae’s roots in the late 1960s gave birth to a style that was never meant to be superficial. Whether through dreadlock-protecting tams, military jackets, or sun-faded crochet, the look represented community, resistance, and unapologetic self-expression. Mitchell emphasizes reggae’s “freedom first, rules second” philosophy—a principle that still guides today’s streetwear and luxury fashion.
â—Ź Original Icons Set the Blueprint
Mitchell spotlights reggae’s fashion pioneers:
- Bob Marley, blending militant consciousness with approachable, effortless cool.
- Grace Jones, whose sharp androgyny crystalized reggae’s fearless cross-genre, cross-gender creative power.
These icons offered more than style—their wardrobes became cultural statements of rebellion, identity, and liberated selfhood.
â—Ź High Fashion Continues the Legacy
Mitchell points to several contemporary designers who channel reggae’s essence into runway-ready looks:
- Wales Bonner, whose Caribbean-diasporic knitwear and palettes evoke Jamaican sun and soul.
- Theophilio, whose Jamaican roots beat at the center of his designs.
- Martine Rose, who reimagines classic Clarks footwear, saluting the rude boy aesthetic.
These creators bring reggae’s attitude—earthy, soulful, confident—into luxury spaces without diluting its cultural meaning.
â—Ź Streetwear Carries the Rhythm Worldwide
Brands like Supreme and Denim Tears infuse reggae’s colors, photography, and texture into urban streetwear. Crochet mesh tops, bucket hats, bold color palettes, and Trenchtown-inspired graphics show up from NYC to Tokyo. This proves reggae fashion is global, borderless, and continuously renewed by new creative voices.
â—Ź Style as Identity & Resistance
Mitchell concludes with a powerful reminder: reggae fashion is about authenticity. It’s the confidence that comes from knowing your story, honoring your root, and dressing with cultural purpose. Reggae’s fashion legacy teaches ease, groundedness, and resistance woven into the fabric of daily life.
3. Reflection & Connection to the Reggae Cultural Movement
At Reggae Cultural Movement, we honor reggae fashion as a living archive of African diasporic creativity. Mitchell’s article resonates deeply with our mission to elevate reggae’s cultural, historical, and spiritual significance.
This piece illustrates how reggae style—like reggae music—carries generational messages:
- Be proud of your identity
- Stay grounded in your roots
- Express your freedom with confidence
- Let your culture move through everything you do
Reggae fashion moves the world the same way the music does: with vibrancy, soul, and righteous rebellion. Mitchell’s work emphasizes this beautifully, reminding us that style is not decoration—it’s declaration.
We encourage our readers to visit ESSENCE to enjoy the full article and continue exploring the global impact of reggae culture.
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Reggae Fashion • Rasta Colors • Bob Marley Style • Jamaica Culture • Reggae History • Diaspora Fashion • Streetwear & Reggae • Reggae Cultural Movement
