Che Guevara

faust · Mar 30, 2004

He must be turning in his grave. This is not just pathetic, this is truly dangerous. This is what pop-culture has become best at, assimilating any importance into a mindless blur.

From New York Times

March 30, 2004
Give Me a Rebel, but Hold the Politics
By GINIA BELLAFANTE

am & Seb is a children's clothing store in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn that specializes in the sort of garments, tiny Levi's, baby Dries van Noten tops — that have been created with the assumption that 3-year-olds don't want to look 3. But a while back the store's owner, Simone Manwarring, began getting requests for an item that was unusual even by those standards.

"Lots of parents were coming in and saying, `Hey, wouldn't it be great to have a Che T-shirt?' " Ms. Manwarring said. By Che, the parents meant, of course, the Argentine-born Cuban revolutionary executed by Bolivians in 1967, whose beret-wearing image once adorned college dormitories from Berkeley to the Sorbonne. Ms. Manwarring started making the shirts, with sizes even for a 3-month-old. She now sells about 10 a week.

The Che industry has been fairly robust over the years, with keepsakes including posters, cigarette lighters, watches and nail clippers sold in many parts of the world. But lately it is clothing with the image of the rebel, from the iconic photo taken in 1960 by Alberto Korda, that seems ever more coveted as street wear. It has turned up on Moscow artists and on 11-year-old boys in the New York suburbs. In the last six months, sales of fitted T-shirts, loose T-shirts, tank tops, hooded sweatshirts, caps and camp shirts have increased by about 40 percent at Thechestore.com, said John Trigiani, the company's owner. Mr. Trigiani began selling Che paraphernalia about five years ago after he returned home to Toronto from Cuba with a statuette he had bought for $2, and resold on eBay for $128.

Why the renewed interest in Che, when so many communist governments have failed? Mr. Trigiani said, "I think there are many reasons for this and one of them is Mike Tyson."

A few years ago, the prizefighter got a picture of Che etched onto his rib cage. Other catalysts include two coming movies, one "The Motorcycle Diaries," based on the journals Che kept during his travels through South America as a medical student in 1952. That film appeared at the Sundance Film Festival in January and is due in theaters later this year. The second film, an epic called "Che" to be directed by Terrence Malick, is beginning production next year.

Revolutionary ideology seems to have almost nothing to do with the emerging Che style, which is manifest also in men's sweaters, high-end bikinis and underwear. "I met a college student who wanted the T-shirts, and she had absolutely no idea who Che was," Mr. Trigiani said.

The image seems mostly a visually compelling logo to those who are buying Che-wear today. "Mao Zedong's is another head we're thinking of," Ms. Manwarring said. "Both of these have become strong pop cultural images; I don't think people want these things on their clothes as a political statement but I think they are drawn to the graphic intensity."

Patrick Symmes, the author of "Chasing Che: A Motorcycle Journey in Search of the Guevara Legend," said, "I think the more that time goes by, the chicer and chicer Che gets because the less he stands for anything."

About two years ago, Mr. Symmes said, he discovered a bar in London called Che. "It's ultradeluxe and a young guy was the owner," Mr. Symmes said, referring to Hani Farsi, a wealthy Saudi Arabian. "I asked him, `Why Che?' and he answered, `Oh you know, rebellion and all that.' "

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twilight fairy · Mar 30, 2004

people who wear che shirts don't even know he was exactly.. (rebellion and all that)..haha..people are really pathetic..

Sugo · Mar 30, 2004

That's really awful.

tangerine · Mar 30, 2004

"...rebellion and all that"

softgrey · Mar 30, 2004

i find the whole thing odd...surely the parents of these babies kow who che is...why would you want that on a t shirt?...

i do find the image very compelling though and can see why it is still popular after all these years...too bad he didn't have this much popular support when he was alive...maybe he wouldn't have been executed...

Barbie · Mar 30, 2004

I used to have a picture of Che in my room ...it was Warhol style...the multi color I have also read Che's motorcycle diaries and his speeches and am versed in his beliefs...not saying I agree with all of them...but I have at least took the time to read about the man...These people are following a trend..it's the blind...leading the ignorant !!! It was the same in the 90's with the Malcolm X caps and jackets..people wore them not understanding the man or his message but because someone famous or someone they considered a trend setter did... And when you asked them about the man they utter the words...he was a rebel the same thing that is being said about Che

Betty Boop · Mar 30, 2004

50% of all girls in my collage wear t-shirts or have bags with Che Guevara on them... most of them think that he is the singer in Rage against the machine!! stupid stupid people!!

softgrey · Mar 30, 2004

Originally posted by Betty Boop@Mar 30th, 2004 - 2:50 pm
50% of all girls in my collage wear t-shirts or have bags with Che Guevara on them... most of them think that he is the singer in Rage against the machine!! stupid stupid people!!
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...it's sad...but also kind of funny...you know...?

chocsta · Mar 30, 2004

I never knew about him till now...

I don't have any Che apparel and I'm glad

ahhGucci · Mar 30, 2004

Originally posted by Betty Boop@Mar 30th, 2004 - 7:50 pm
50% of all girls in my collage wear t-shirts or have bags with Che Guevara on them... most of them think that he is the singer in Rage against the machine!! stupid stupid people!!
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Typical...
I have read Geurilla warfare by Che Guevara. I don't base my life on Che, and he has little relevance to most Teens in the US. Like Betty said, people think he was a singer RATM (I've never heard that one before)
Around here, if you wear a Che tee, someone will bound to give you a lecture on how Fidel did or didn't kill him.....

strawberry daiquiri · Mar 30, 2004

Che is my homeboy... déjà vu, déjà vu, déjà vu

purplelucrezia · Mar 30, 2004

It's nothing new...

tangerine · Mar 30, 2004

Originally posted by strawberry daiquiri@Mar 30th, 2004 - 12:44 pm
Che is my homeboy... déjà vu, déjà vu, déjà vu
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When will the shirts be ready, and how much are you charging?

ahhGucci · Mar 30, 2004

Originally posted by strawberry daiquiri@Mar 30th, 2004 - 8:44 pm
Che is my homeboy... déjà vu, déjà vu, déjà vu
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Ohhh, now I remember, when will you stop with your mockery....

Atelier · Mar 30, 2004

This thread reminds me of Charlotte making fun of Kelly for checking into the hotel under the name "Evelyn Waugh." The wardrobe choices of people who slept through or didn't take intro poli sci is surely not a sign of the apocalypse. Random adoption of icons takes many forms and, come on, who hasn't done it.

Acid · Mar 30, 2004

i dont know who this guy is.......something to do with cuba and military

there is a HUGE picture of him on a bridge in portobello road.

he looks kinda cool

faust · Mar 30, 2004

Originally posted by Atelier@Mar 30th, 2004 - 4:27 pm
This thread reminds me of Charlotte making fun of Kelly for checking into the hotel under the name "Evelyn Waugh." The wardrobe choices of people who slept through or didn't take intro poli sci is surely not a sign of the apocalypse. Random adoption of icons takes many forms and, come on, who hasn't done it.
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I haven't. It is fine to associate oneself with the certian philosphical ideas, but to tout a symbol of something that others fought and gave their lives for as fashion is beyond all shallowness. And to make money off of it is not even shallow, it's immoral...

Spike413 · Mar 30, 2004

This isn't a new trend though, I've seen many a t-shirt with Che's image on it (for styles sake of course) But on kids clothes it's a bit much. I dunno, it's weird in a sense b/c the people wearing it probably are not wearing his image because they support his beliefs or anything. I dunno, it's a little different then wearing a dead rock star on your shirt, don't you think?

softgrey · Mar 30, 2004

Originally posted by faust+Mar 30th, 2004 - 4:54 pm--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(faust @ Mar 30th, 2004 - 4:54 pm)</div><div class='quotemain'> <!--QuoteBegin-Atelier@Mar 30th, 2004 - 4:27 pm
This thread reminds me of Charlotte making fun of Kelly for checking into the hotel under the name "Evelyn Waugh." The wardrobe choices of people who slept through or didn't take intro poli sci is surely not a sign of the apocalypse. Random adoption of icons takes many forms and, come on, who hasn't done it.
Click to expand...

I haven't. It is fine to associate oneself with the certian philosphical ideas, but to tout a symbol of something that others fought and gave their lives for as fashion is beyond all shallowness. And to make money off of it is not even shallow, it's immoral... [/b][/quote]
good thing you're becoming a teacher ...faust....

i'm sure you'll set any future generations who cross your path straight on these and many other philosphical ideals...

hang on to those ideals, my friend....

Atelier · Mar 30, 2004

Originally posted by faust@Mar 30th, 2004 - 4:54 pm
I haven't.
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Oh really, Mr. Reznor? The NIN logo is no different from Che's image in terms of adoption. I point this out in the spirit of this discussion only, not to be a wise-ass. Would it be immoral for a post-"Closer" bandwagon fan who doesn't know the tracklisting to "Broken" to wear a freshly purchased concert shirt at the mall? Of course not. I don't think Trent or Che would care in the least.

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