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| Mahdi Mohammed Ahmed Ruler of Sudan | (1881-1885) |
In 1882 Egypt was controlled by the Ottoman Empire requiring people to grow the cash crops of wheat, indigo, cotton and sugar. Political unrest and social changes were looming. As a statement to oppose the Ottoman ruling class, Mahdi Mohammed Ahmed and his followers, purposely wore clothing patched with indigo as a symbol of religious piety and humility. A Sudanese man wears the typical Mahdist clothing in Omdurman which would have been randomly patched with indigo. (top and middle bottom images both from Wikipedia)
Fast forward a hundred years to the United States where the common thread of wearing garment to make a statement still exists. This anti-establishment sentiment establishes itself again visually in our society as the ripped and patched Levis blue jeans. Jeans, the denim uniform of rebellious youth, is now a fashion statement embraced worldwide.
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| Typical Mahdist clothing in Omdurman, 1936 |
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| Patched Levis Jeans (imageposhmark.com) |
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