Skimpy hemlines and Wonderbras were counterbalanced by tracksuit bottoms and clodhopping boots; every concession to the cis-het male gaze subverted by mouthy sloganeering. But while we might look back and applaud the upcycling efforts, it’s fair to say the flag looks pretty different through contemporary eyes. The British flag had already been a symbol of the far right for decades by this point, having been taken up in the 1970s by skinheads and neo-Nazis as a twisted display of toxic nationalism. But it was also subject to tussles across the political spectrum; subverted by punks, beloved by mod revivalists – and, some argued, ripe for a positive reclamation.

Union Jack Tea Towel - Etsy

But from Welsh tapestry to Harris tweed, Yorkshire knitwear and countless innovative new designers, these isles have a rich fashion history. The Union Jack – which I believe has always been a violent symbol – was arguably at its least toxic in terms of what it represented in the 1960s and the 1990s,” says fashion historian, author and broadcaster Amber Butchart.It’s the dress that launched a thousand drag acts and school talent show routines, the dress that was copied and flogged on market stalls across the land, and the dress that has just been rendered in plastic for the brand new Spice Girls LEGO set. So many of these discussions, whether it’s about flags or public monuments, are essentially anti-history. Except for the odd moment of unity – the Olympics, Eurovision, whenever Wordle uses an American spelling – it’s hard to see why anyone without jingoistic leanings would choose to wear the British flag across their chest in 2022. But virtually every other trend from the 90s and 00s has been resurrected, so is it possible we could see Union Jacks as the new tie dye/polka dots/florals for spring?

Union Jack Tea Towel - Etsy New Zealand Union Jack Tea Towel - Etsy New Zealand

As for Geri, she’s undergone something of, um, a cultural shift herself over the past 25 years, from outspoken pop rebel to self-styled lady of the manor, frequently seen in tweeds and pearls. No matter how famous they got or how many branded products they shilled (more than 100 were trademarked in the year since their first release), there was still the sense that all we needed to join the gang was courage and a bag full of craft supplies. Just like their endearingly basic dance routines and shambolic interview style, the Spices’ wardrobe made up for in confidence what they lacked in polish – and we loved them for it.In the seven months since their debut single, “Wannabe”, was released, the Spice Girls had gone viral the old-fashioned way: through TV screens, magazines and playground dance routines; through an avalanche of branded merch and a barrage of sassy soundbites.

Union Jack Tea - Etsy UK Union Jack Tea - Etsy UK

Featuring Union Jack, London, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, UK, Cornwall, Devon, Oxford, Cambridge, Isle of Wight and much much more.

The first prime minister,” Bridget Jones wrote in her diary, “I can completely imagine having voluntary sex with. And even the humble tea towel has been given a chic new spin by designer Selina Sanders, whose beautiful upcycled tops sell for hundreds of dollars via Instagram drops.

Er (Union Jack Tea Towel). | Artsy Banksy | Er (Union Jack Tea Towel). | Artsy

It joined the elite list, alongside Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust hair and Elvis’s Vegas jumpsuit, of pop looks so iconic that even the very worst fancy dress efforts are instantly recognisable. It’s the one that was plastered across the front pages the next morning; capturing a moment, a mood, an attitude. Picasso’s sizable oeuvre grew to include over 20,000 paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures,ceramics, theater sets, and costume designs. We might look to DJ Tara Kumar mixing sarees with vintage streetwear, or sustainable labels like Kemi Telford, which makes contemporary pieces in traditional Nigerian wax fabrics. A new “British invasion” – culturally, at least – that harked back to the swinging ’60s while looking forward to a brighter future.Inspired by African and Iberian art, he also contributed to the rise of Surrealism and Expressionism. It can help forge a sense of identity in diasporic communities, and champion under-represented cultures on the world stage. But it’s the dress that everyone remembers, and the dress that ended up as a kind of sartorial shorthand for years to come. If that ever could have been possible – and I would argue it couldn’t, the context of the British Empire is simply impossible to ignore – then it is absolutely not possible now,” she says. He painted his most famous work, Guernica (1937), in response to the Spanish Civil War; the totemic grisaille canvas remains a definitive work of anti-war art.