REGGAE MUSIC INSPIRES FASHION TRENDS

Caribbean-inspired designer clothing and accessories are being sought after by reggae musicians. That means it won’t be long until your customer is itching for knit and crochet caps in bright shades of red, green and yellow. Designers such as Prada and Christian Dior are capitalizing on this trend by making accessories that incorporate the green and yellow colors found on the Jamaican flag and the Rastafarian red, green and gold stripes.

"In the current fashion scene, there is a growing trend of individuality in clothing, so it is no surprise that reggae is now popular," said Barbara Beccio, director of fashion design at the Art Institute of California-San Francisco. "Reggae music became popular in the late '60s, early '70s -- a time when individual liberation and freedom were exemplified by protesting the Vietnam War, civil rights, women's liberation and sexual freedom. Today, again, we see war protests, concerns of immigration and issues regarding sexual choice. Individuality is again looked to as an inspiration, so it makes sense that the individual, peace and love of reggae's belief is mirrored in today's fashion."

Reggae musicians have such a loyal following that this colorful knitted hat trend will flourish on the street. “We can't keep Bob Marley items in stock, whether it's T-shirts, hats, calendars or books," said Maureen Ferguson, Virgin Megastore's divisional merchandise manager in Northern California. Reggae merchandise is also available at Puma stores.

If you are looking for summer reggae festivals for fashion inspiration check out:

• www.goodvibezmusic.com
• www.snwmf.com
• www.reggaeontheriver.com
• www.apeconcerts.com
• www.mbayreggaefest.net

Virgin Megastore in San Francisco has red, green and gold knitted Rasta caps and woven hats in stock.