The cultural impact of the afghan coat A journey through different territories and cultures
From John Lennon to Janis Joplin, passing through Britney Spears to Olivia Rodrigo and Bella Hadid, the afghan coat is once again becoming an object of desire for Gen Z and an inspiration for both designers, in creating collections presented during fashion weeks, and for the street style looks of celebrities. What may appear as just any fur coat, actually has had a significant cultural impact on costume history and the identity of certain subcultures, being reproduced in various forms and constructions over time. Is it just a trend persisting in its cyclical nature, or is there something more to it?
How did the afghan coat originate?
Today, the afghan coat, which may cause dismay among even the most passionate animal activists, particularly the group PETA, whose members we've seen protesting on the catwalks during recent fashion weeks, is a highly sought-after item by new generations. They often prefer vintage, a sustainable choice that challenges the significant problem of animal treatment in the fashion industry. More recently, the afghan coat has returned to be desired by many celebrities like Olivia Rodrigo and Zoe Kravitz: a consistent choice with the return of Y2K schoolgirl style, a bit Lizzie McGuire, the cult series of Disney Channel, a bit Phoebe Buffay, a bohemian artist, the ironic and free spirit of the series Friends. From Burberry to Diesel, the "Penny Lane coat," a name coined from the coat worn by Kate Hudson in the famous film Almost Famous, has been adapted through different styling forms and techniques allowing the garment to transform, to be the subject of experimentation as in the case of denim and wool furs by Diesel and the tribal mantles, in some ways "prehistoric," from the latest Marni runway show. All this happens because fashion allows its freer creators to go beyond what seems like just a passing trend but is, in reality, a historical-cultural exploration into a past that returns to the present each time with new forms and meanings.
