The durag is once again having a moment and suddenly seems to be everywhere. As with many fashion trends, Rihanna heralded in the durag’s return to glory when she wore a crystal-encrusted one the CFDA red carpet in 2014. She followed with a selection of durags in her spring 2017 Fenty Puma collection.
Earlier this year, Harlem’s A$AP Ferg provided a tutorial on how to tie a durag, while comedic team 4YE were inspired to create a parody ad for Dome Dupot, “home of the durag.” Solange kept the good durag red carpet energy going when she wore a durag on Met Gala red carpet in May 2018.
Along with celebrity statements, a wave (get it…wave??) of street-infused labels have begun adding durags featuring various and sundry stylish twists to their lines.
Rihanna and company are celebrating a form of very black headgear with roots that extend back to the ’70s. While the uses of hair scarves is ancient, New Jersey-based So Many Waves claims in the early ’70s it invented the durag, which was initially called a tie down. It’s endured in part because of its functionality, but also because choosing to wear it publicly makes its own “I’m black and I’m proud” statement.
While the wave cap was a staple of hip hop style throughout the ’90s and early ’00s, the look faded partially because of changing hair styles. Also, as the influence of city-center black fashion began to push into the mainstream, white America backlash kicked into gear. Within the influential realm of sports, the NBA in 2005 created a dress code banning jerseys, jeans, hats and durag, Not surprisingly, the NFL took it there first with a 2001 ban on players wearing durags under their helmets.
Along with Rihanna’s door opening moment, the rise of streetwear as a global fashion trend has enabled the enduring durag to sidestep the NBA and NFL’s ban and once again become a major fashion trend. In addition to brands adding the silhouette to their lines, the durag experienced a denouement moment with with the initiation of the HeadGraphix-managed durag march in Raleigh, North Carolina and most recently the Durag Fest in Charlotte, NC.
In celebration of the mighty durag, we’ve rounded up some of our faves below. Click on the image to find out where to purchase them.
