The brown stuff hitting the fan in Iran has meant images of riot police were all over the media last week, proving again how cool they look. Riot police are fashion geniuses; they might be the human face of the evil urge of the powerful to crush us all, but their constantly evolving uniforms are just about the only thing you can wear that doesn’t look like some sort of revival of the stuff people wore twenty years ago. Riot gear is where it’s at, it’s definitely not retro look, and anything with a built-in six-pack is hot stuff in fashion terms. The padded and armoured gloves, jackets and trousers are menswear heaven – it’s techy, nearly all black and definitely not for pussies.
Rioting used to be something you did because you were starving or to stop the government stealing your land. But in 1968, students in Paris, lead by Daniel Cohn Bendit (who later wrote some dubious stuff about sex and kids but is now a European Parliament big wig and talks less shit than most politicians) made rioting chic. Those French rioters look pretty lame now, in their wannabe beatnik, throwback (even then), style. Sure, Berlin’s rioters can work punk at a protest, but it’s the hated riot cops who always look best. Given that riot gear’s ever-improving functional design makes it ever more RoboCop-like, and that every movie seems to think the future will be a dystopian disaster, riot cop style is probably a glimpse of fashion’s tomorrow. If not, it’s definitely the shape of hardcore gay discos to come, and a pretty good way for Frontline Assembly fans (and industrial anarchists in general) to update their look too.
These screen grabs from Security Pro USA show off the latest threads, fashions and accessories available. Other suppliers include Policeone.com and British boot manufacturer Magnum, whose executives like to wear t-shirts emblazoned with the slogan ‘Dressed to kill‘ at trade shows.
Reader Comments
June 25th, 2009
3:18 pm
Riot police do look cool as fuck, but maybe that’s because your idea of cool is retarded, violence means pain for someone
June 25th, 2009
4:04 pm
This stuff is way better than anything I’ve ever seen at any Spartan night
June 25th, 2009
4:06 pm
I thought the fashion blog was getting a bit boring, this is weird and great - thanks Vice.
June 25th, 2009
4:15 pm
Is this meant to be written in a fag mag way, or is that writing style part of the joke?
PS: How can talking less shit include being a pedophile?
June 26th, 2009
5:35 am
Whenever I see the word “POLIS” printed on a shield or a car or whatever it always makes me think of Scottish people saying “police”
June 26th, 2009
9:33 am
Is this from the new GIBLOWJOB mutilation they call the American Hero?
June 26th, 2009
9:34 am
Isn’t it made to look intimidating on purpose to scare off potential rioters?
June 26th, 2009
9:34 am
Word they picked the old Mickey straight out of Tugboat. Only that mouse would throw down not the newer cheesy one. Maybe the Fantasia mickey but thats just getting ridiculous.
June 26th, 2009
9:35 am
baseball catchers were onto this shit a long time ago. welcome to the ballgame, coppers.
June 26th, 2009
9:36 am
Michael Jackson moves up top. Ow.
June 26th, 2009
9:37 am
Robocop was rated R???????
June 26th, 2009
9:38 am
good to see that they remember where there roots are from……ROBOCOP! fricking awesome!!!
June 26th, 2009
9:40 am
hahah the cop with the video camera, “stop joslting me im trying to get my shot” golden.
June 26th, 2009
9:40 am
lets hope the rioters dont get some cash and hit up these websites, suddenly it wont be rioting it will be a full on war.
June 26th, 2009
9:41 am
so are those like riot sex dolls? the pic below mickey has a very suggestive mask on.
June 26th, 2009
9:42 am
“Riot police are fashion geniuses”
True.
June 26th, 2009
9:42 am
no the skinheads have it down, man.
June 29th, 2009
12:45 pm
First one looks like a scene from Starship Troopers
July 6th, 2009
12:32 pm
I’ve always been interested in uniforms especially more controversial ones maybe its my desire to provoke people or maybe its because I think from a fetishistic point of view I think they can be pretty damn sexy and my GF agrees. I think its got something to do with the power that a uniform conveys, by putting on a uniform you immediately assume a position of power and dominance because military uniforms are designed to be imposing as much as they are to be functional.
On a more practical note I think the guys behind Iran’s riot police should have thought about the climate before ordering that kit. This is the country where possibly the worlds hottest temperature was recorded (87°C/188°F) in 1967. Rioters should just hold back till the police start passing out from heat stroke. I did a gig once in a light weight riot vest and gas mask after 20 minutes I couldn’t see any of my gear o_O