R13 Suggests Their Brand Inspired Melania Trump's Zara Jacket
Earlier this week, Melania Trump was seen on her way to a detention center where she planned to meet with migrant children, wearing a green jacket from Zara with the words "I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?" in all caps across the back. The clothing of choice soon drew harsh criticism from many people online, and despite a statement from her spokesperson claiming there was no "hidden meaning" behind the parka, the First Lady's outfit still delivered a heavy impact.
Now, one brand is claiming to have possibly inspired the Zara jacket worn by Melania. As noted by The Cut, R13 is currently selling an oversized parka in an almost identical shade, only theirs contains the message "God save America" on the back in all capital letters. In an email, the brand posited that it "seems Zara found ‘inspiration’ from R13’s FW18 God Save America parka," which retails on their website for $895.
It's worth noting that both jackets also could be interpreted as a nod to the infamous "God Save the Queen" jacket worn by Kate Moss in the early 2000s. The iconic photo by Craig McDean was seen in the June 2002 issue of i-D magazine, and showed Kate from the back, wearing the now-famous army-green jacket, black underwear, fishnet stockings, and black boots. (The trend of writing on jackets in huge letters can also be attributed to punk fashion, dating back to the 1970s.)
Moreover, there's a long history of jackets serving as the medium for political messages. Consider the jacket worn by artist and activist David Wojnarowicz at a 1988 protest amid the AIDS crisis, which displayed the words: "If I die of AIDS — forget burial — just drop my body on the steps of the F.D.A." The bottom line is that fashion is political, and what one chooses to wear will inevitably make a statement — with or without words to spell it out.
Teen Vogue has reached out to Zara for comment.
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Related: Melania Trump’s Jacket DID Have a Hidden Meaning — and It’s Worse Than We Thought
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