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In recent geopolitical fashion news—which I'm pretty sure is the first time those two topics have ever been juxtaposed—the Russian Defense Ministry just dropped a clothing line inspired by the recent annexation of Crimea. According to The Guardian, the defense ministry partnered with a Russian menswear designer named Leonid Alexeev and unveiled the collection at Moscow Fashion Week. It's quite the shift from Alexeev's typical black and white, suited-up look, but he says it was inspired by "patriotism and love of Russia." Well, either that or the fact that if he didn't accept the offer, he'd be copping a one-way ticket to Siberia.
This is wildly fucked up though. Are you kidding me with this shit? This is the unapologetic Putin lifestyle to a goddamn tee. Naturally, this dude doesn't give a single fuck that the world at large sees his actions of annexing the territory and, really, everything he ever does, as a straight up terrible and completely misguided abuse of power. So, yeah, sure, why not just make a clothing collection inspired by it to ease some of the already extremely high tension? Listen, I'm no political science major with a term paper due tomorrow, but this seems very obvious propaganda. But that's just me. The collection also uses the "Handshake of Torgau" imagery that symbolized the defeat of Nazi Germany in WW2 and brought together Americans and Russians over the Elbe River because that's totally allegorical to what's happening today. Thanks for dragging us into your bullshit, Putin. Thanks for fucking nothing.
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4.2015 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia: "Army of Russia" brand collection
31 Mar 2015, Moscow, Russia --- MOSCOW, RUSSIA. MARCH 31, 2015. A model showcases creations by "Army of Russia" fashion brand at the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia. The collection, presented by Voentorg, the Russian Defense Ministry's official clothing and food supplier, marks the 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945). Sergei Savostyanov/TASS --- Image by © Savostyanov Sergei/ITAR-TASS Photo/Corbis
5.2015 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia: "Army of Russia" brand collection
31 Mar 2015, Moscow, Russia --- MOSCOW, RUSSIA. MARCH 31, 2015. A model showcases creations by "Army of Russia" fashion brand at the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia. The collection, presented by Voentorg, the Russian Defense Ministry's official clothing and food supplier, marks the 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945). Sergei Savostyanov/TASS --- Image by © Savostyanov Sergei/ITAR-TASS Photo/Corbis
6.2015 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia: "Army of Russia" brand collection
31 Mar 2015, Moscow, Russia --- MOSCOW, RUSSIA. MARCH 31, 2015. Models showcase creations by "Army of Russia" fashion brand at the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia. The collection, presented by Voentorg, the Russian Defense Ministry's official clothing and food supplier, marks the 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945). Sergei Savostyanov/TASS --- Image by © Savostyanov Sergei/ITAR-TASS Photo/Corbis
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MOSCOW, RUSSIA - MARCH 31: A model seen backstage before the Special Collection by Russian Army Design Bureau show during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia Autumn/Winter 2015/16 at Manege on March 31, 2015 in Moscow, Russia. Notices on clothes should be read as 'Polite' and 'Polite people take the cities'. (Photo by Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images)