until anti-branding always

It is commonplace now to observe that Che Guevara’s image, especially the famous Korda photograph, has become an international brand used to sell everything from T-shirts and key chains to ice cream bars and, uh, books. At the International Center of Photography in Manhattan, there is currently an exhibition entitled "¡Che! Revolution and Commerce," which explores the various permutations of Che iconography. For the most part, this hasn’t stopped earnest (heheh) counterculturists from wearing Che t-shirts, berets, and so on. But now it has become a running joke, so it is clearly time for something more edgy and radical. Right on cue, I recently received this email from Cam, a student at the University of Toronto:

In the past few weeks I've noticed a couple things around Toronto you might find interesting. The first is that more kids than ever are wearing the kafiyah, the headscarf associated with the PLO since the 1960s. Normally, you'd see these things on International Socialists and other "anti-imperialist" types, but this really isn't a political thing. I assume it's just because the kafiyah is associated with militancy and looks all-around bad-ass, but I don't know. The other new bit of rebel gear--probably less controversial--is that Nike has released a sneaker commemorating the Easter Rising of 1916. It is green, orange, and white, and has the Irish harp on the heel. A link of the shoe is here. I find this a bit funny because the de facto military commander of the Rising was James Connolly, a Marxist and trade unionist. Ah well, I'm sure it will sell well in Irish America. As I understand it, for the last few decades celebrating the Rising was more or less a Republican affair, but I guess since the IRA packed it in it's become an inclusive holiday again.

This is rather disconcerting, if true, a sign of the internal logic of extreme rebellion spiralling completely out of control. Can anyone confirm the kafiyah sightings, in Toronto or anywhere else?

Meanwhile, if you're really looking for the latest in alternative streetwear, I recommend Sarko-tees.