For a few days during the first week of February, news headlines in Thailand included reports about ‘elephant pants’. Discussions ranged from trade competitiveness and intellectual property to Thailand’s attempts to increase its soft power. According to a London based fashion historian, pushing a fashion trend as an element of a country’s soft power raises questions about its origins.
Promoting a fashion trend as an element of soft power is short sighted
For fashion connoisseurs, ‘elephant pants’ could be seen as ‘harem pants’ making a comeback from the 1910s. The style, popularised by Paul Poiret, featured a party costume with ballooning pants fitted at the ankle. They are very similar to what we know today as part of the essential ‘tourist uniform’, worn with tank tops, t-shirts or matching loose shirts.
“It’s great that this has become a global trend, but…
