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1. Hello. Today seems like a good day to talk about the legacy of Fred Perry, and its rich, intertwined history with anti-racist subculture around the world.
2. First, let's talk about the man himself. Fred Perry was a British tennis star - the last British-born player to win Wimbledon until Andy Murray won in 2013.
He was an iconoclast, a libertine, the son of a socialist cotton spinner. A counterculture icon in his own right.
He was an iconoclast, a libertine, the son of a socialist cotton spinner. A counterculture icon in his own right.
3. The Fred Perry brand became a symbol of tennis outsiders.
Arthur Ashe, the only black man to ever win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, became Fred Perry's greatest star.
Murray wore Perry when he finally lifted the trophy at Wimbledon.
Arthur Ashe, the only black man to ever win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, became Fred Perry's greatest star.
Murray wore Perry when he finally lifted the trophy at Wimbledon.
4. Outside of tennis, the brand became synonymous with Jamaican rude boy culture that found a home in West London in the 1960s and 70s. From this culture came the original skinheads - working class, anti-racist British youth that entrenched Perry in counterculture.
5. Like skinhead culture generally, Perry was then co-opted by young fascists, in the US, the UK and around Europe. But that was always fringe to Perry's anti-racist counterculture status, worn by groups like The Specials and Madness.
6. In the US and the UK, anti-racist skinheads and punks embraced Fred Perry as part of their underground uniform.
When ska and punk music had a fleeting moment in the 90s, Fred Perry found a new mainstream audience. As with the music, its roots remained in multiculturalism.
When ska and punk music had a fleeting moment in the 90s, Fred Perry found a new mainstream audience. As with the music, its roots remained in multiculturalism.
7. Sadly, Perry's iconic polo has been coopted by hate groups throughout its history. Few have made it uniform in the way the proud boys have.
But remember: This brand, an anti-racist subcultural icon, has been stolen from those who first embraced it. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/fred-perry-proud-boys-far-right-british-brand-history-b696548.html
But remember: This brand, an anti-racist subcultural icon, has been stolen from those who first embraced it. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/fred-perry-proud-boys-far-right-british-brand-history-b696548.html
8. For its part, Perry has stopped selling the black and yellow colorway in the US, and has spoken out against the PBs. https://help.fredperry.com/hc/en-us/articles/360013674918-Proud-Boys-Statement
9. From Perry's chairman:
"Fred was the son of a working class socialist MP who became a tennis champion at a time when tennis was an elitist sport. He started a business with a Jewish businessman from Eastern Europe. It’s a shame we even have to answer questions like this."
"Fred was the son of a working class socialist MP who became a tennis champion at a time when tennis was an elitist sport. He started a business with a Jewish businessman from Eastern Europe. It’s a shame we even have to answer questions like this."
10. I write this as I, like other folks I know and don't know, continue to wear Fred Perry, both in respect for its history, and in hopes of wresting control of its meaning back from fascists.
Fred Perry belongs to anti-racists. Full stop. Fascists deserve nothing. /end
Fred Perry belongs to anti-racists. Full stop. Fascists deserve nothing. /end
