Leopard Fabric – Fashion and Conservation

Leopard fabric is bold, declarative and sexy in a primal sort of way, it’s glamorous and decadent. Unlike pastels or delicate floral patterns that tend to appeal only to those who like to be discreet and subtle, leopard print has always been a statement of extravagance. It is a print that people either love or hate.

The 1990s saw a resurgence of the leopard print trend, as young women took up the mantra of Girl Power and rejected previous definitions of femininity. The Spice Girls used leopard print to assert that there was no right or wrong way to be a woman, and that women had the right to be sexy, trashy, sophisticated, sporty, independent, fierce and girly at the same time. This reworking of the traditional boundaries of female identity has continued into modern times.

It is no surprise then that it was embraced by the working class youth culture of Punk and Rock. Punk musicians including Wendy O’ Williams employed leopard print as part of their camp aesthetic, as they rebelled against societal expectations for middle-class respectability and feminine taste. Their use of the print was often accompanied by on-stage theatrics including partial nudity, explosions and gunplay.

While the leopard print is currently enjoying a revival, it must not be allowed to mask the threat faced by this endangered species. We must find a way to connect fashion to the urgent need for leopard conservation, and convert this colossal interest in animal print into practical benefit for the species.