Amid the chaos of a U.S. presidential race, fashion has entered the fray with Arsenal of Democracy, a six-piece collection from the cult-favorite Barragán and the Palestine-based Trashy Couture. Designed by Trashy founders Omar Braika and Shukri Lawrence alongside Victor Barragán, the capsule challenges political hypocrisy and imperial propaganda while blending provocative visuals with cutting-edge design.
“This collection reflects the media’s role in crafting propaganda and imperial narratives,” the trio explains. Drawing inspiration from Trashy Couture’s Palestinian heritage and Barragán’s Mexican roots, the designs confront global power dynamics and the storytelling behind modern empires.
What Is Arsenal of Democracy?
Arsenal of Democracy is a fashion capsule rooted in satire and critique. Each piece interrogates the intersection of propaganda, pop culture, and systemic violence. For example, the ‘Murica mesh skirt features a chaotic collage of Americana: Hillary Clinton, Mickey Mouse, the World Trade Center, and the Stars and Stripes layered beneath Arabic script. Meanwhile, a floor-length wrap skirt replaces George Washington with Monica Lewinsky on a $911 bill, stained with blood-red splatters.
“Monica on the Bloody Dollar Bill Skirt represents how the U.S. twisted her story, slut-shamed her, and protected her abuser,” Braika and Lawrence note. “It’s symbolic of broader hypocrisies within empires.”
Barragán and Trashy Couture: A Perfect Collaboration
Barragán, known for skewering cultural phenomena like “Karens,” and Trashy Couture, infamous for turning MAGA hats into Arabic critiques, are a natural match. Their shared vision of using fashion as resistance is evident in this bold collaboration.
Military propaganda takes center stage with the ‘psyop’ print, showcasing wires, hard drives, and surveillance imagery. The campaign visuals further amplify these motifs, incorporating grainy faux-drone shots and staged depictions of Trashy’s community from an imagined American lens. “We took narratives America imposes on others and turned them on their head,” the designers explain.
How Arsenal of Democracy Challenges Propaganda
The collection doesn’t shy away from critiquing imperialism. Through its brazen iconoclasm, it highlights the continuity of global hegemonies regardless of leadership. As Braika and Lawrence put it: “Whether it’s Kamala or Trump, the imperial machine rolls on. Its agenda continues, and the bombs will drop, sugarcoated or not.”
This collaboration isn’t partisan. It’s a deeper exploration of how narratives are written, rewritten, and weaponized to maintain systems of power. By satirizing these narratives, the collection aligns itself with global resistance movements and the fight for liberation.
