Back in September 2020 before election results were announced (and baselessly questioned), Believe in Better merchandise was launched in support of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, urging everyone
to vote. Designers from Thom Browne to Carly Cushnie backed the campaign in support of the candidates. Now that the inauguration is on the horizon, the Presidential Inaugural Committee announced today that a new set of fashion-forward products will be released to memorialize the historic event.
"We are so excited to showcase these designs to commemorate this moment to heal our nation, bring our country together, and build back better,” said PIC Executive Director Maju Varghese. The original collection included nineteen American brands, but this update features a tight edit of just five designers for six limited-edition products. Gabriela Hearst, Thakoon Panichgul, Joe Perez, and Aurora James of Brother Vellies were part of the original designers who volunteered last year, returning to create additional items for the relaunch. Believe in Better is also including the introduction of accessories designer Roxanne Assoulin to the mix. All products are made in America by union workers.
Hearst makes tie-dye presidential with a sweater almost as trippy as the previous term. Panichgul recognizes that "unity won over division" with a crewneck sweater. Perez's hoodie belongs at a concert merch table, featuring both Biden and Harris' faces on the back. James celebrates the new leadership with socks emblazoned with "46". And Assoulin designed beaded bracelets reminding us to come together as a community.
"There haven't been a lot of opportunities to design from a place of pure joy in the past year— but this was really that moment for me," James stated. "And even when these socks are vintage, sitting in my drawer, they will symbolize this moment of collective freedom."
The Believe in Better inauguration collection is available for purchase today at bideninaugural.org alongside more commemorative products (like a Kamala hat, BTW).
