In recent years the Grateful Dead has somehow become a symbol of popular streetwear. I am constantly seeing people in Grateful Dead shirts despite not listening to the band.
I think this tends to be pretty popular among my generation (Gen Z). People will commonly wear band tees to a band that they don’t actually listen to.
This post is not a hate post to people that do choose to wear band merch for a band that they don’t listen to. I think fashion is personal, you should be able to wear whatever you choose without judgment being passed onto you.
I find the “name 5 songs” comments about band tees fairly annoying and repetitive. However, I would love to have someone ask me to name 5 songs while I am in a Dead shirt. I just think it would be amusing and self-satisfying.
Recently, brands like American Eagle, Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, Nike, and Croc have released clothing items in partnership with the Grateful Dead. I think this is interesting.
I wonder if this flux in the fashion industry regarding these old band tee’s revival is related to the theory that fashion is cyclical and trends from decades ago are constantly being brought back into the scope of fashion. Yet, band tees never really did go out of style.
The counter-culture of the 1960s and the hippie vibe that the Grateful Dead had during this time period could be to blame for the revamp of the band’s merch. The culture and fashion of the Dead show pushed new textiles, trippy patterns, and memorable symbols into the scene of fashion.
Regardless, I find it very interesting to see such a wide array of Grateful Dead merch. In a way, I also enjoy having Grateful Dead shirts so readily available.
I buy my dad a Grateful Dead shirt for every single holiday, his birthday, Christmas, fathers day, you name it Steve’s opening up a new Grateful Dead shirt. I have found the growing trend of Dead shirts making it very easy to find my dad a present. Which is definitely a plus!
Let me know what you guys think of wearing band tees to bands you don’t listen to. I won’t lie, I have most definitely been guilty of this. Sometimes I just can’t pass up such a cool thrifted band tee!
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