BLACK OUT

       Black is fashion’s universal color: everyone loves it, everyone looks good in it. But fashion’s sake isn’t why Thailand is experiencing nationwide shortage of black clothes.

After Thailand’s highly regarded King Bhumibol Adulyagej passed away October 13th, the country has announced a one-year mourning period. The government is also requesting that for the 30 days following Adulyagej’s death, citizen’s dress in all black or white. Government employees will be required to dress in black for the following year.

        With mass appeal towards black, mourners have created such rampant shortage of black clothing around the country that retail stores have been raising prices to meet demand. Retailers who are caught surging prices have been threatened fines or jail time for disrespecting the king by taking financial advantage of his passing. The extremities of the shortage of black have resulted in black dye stands popping up on streets in Bangkok and other large cities for those who can’t afford to buy more black apparel.

State banks in Thailand will be distributing free black shirts to approximately eight million citizens who are identified as low income, providing them the opportunity to demonstrate their mourning through their clothes.

         For many of people, wearing all black is a fashionable statement, an easy answer to getting ready in the morning or for a night out. On the other side, however, cultures like our own around the world wear black as a sign of mourning and grief. It is a symbol of respect and reflection on those who have passed. As Thailand mourns the loss of their 70 year ruler, they too practice the tradition for the following month.