Bancstac

The integration of legal concepts into fashion is a fascinating way to capture the ideas behind legal forms and use them creatively in an entirely different context. The legal document used by law enforcement to outline the terms and conditions for an informant to share information about criminal activity with authorities can serve as an excellent source of inspiration in this regard. This form, which must be signed by both the informant and the agency, is often used in the drug investigation and enforcement context. The form establishes the hierarchy between the informant and the agency and sets forth the rules to be obeyed by both parties.

The utility of this legal form notwithstanding, it is far more interesting to consider how the basic ideas of secrecy and confidentiality contained therein can somehow be applied to the world of clothing design. In essence, the vagueness of the language of the agreement without any dates and the targeting of confidentiality as the key theme of the document can be useful design concepts. The blank legal form, whether in print or digital form, represents an absence of information that borders on emptiness but can also be considered a starting form, an initial template to be physically and electronically completed.

The blank agreement can be a fashion symbol unto itself and be used by the designer in a variety of different ways and styles. In dark and menacing ways, this approach can evoke a sense of intimidation and invoke fear in those who come to view the work. In more playful forms of the blank legal form, the creator can use interesting colors and material to convey a message of creativity and whim. No matter what the approach, however, the theme is always the same and it is one of discretion, one of secrecy, and one of inaccessibility.

The typical blank confidential informant agreement form has a rectangular shape and very straight edges as its outer perimeters. The edges can be softened and digitized, however, and can flow into different directions while in their folded condition. The folds can be deliberate and in an organized manner but other folds can also be disorderly and appear slightly more organic in nature. The shape of the form as a whole can be altered to fit different themes and can shift stylistically based on the clothing being designed. For example, a shirt based off of an information agreement form can be shortened to fit the size and scope of the legal form itself and can be cropped to directly reflect the original design. A hoodie can be extended to mimic the template of the original document and can make for an interesting addition to the stylings of the hoodie.

What is perhaps most interesting about the application of the confidential informant agreement form into a clothing design is the connections the designer may form with the best known hoodie of all, the one that was worn by the late rapper Tupac. The rapper had always worn hoodies, but in the wake of his untimely death at the age of 25, the hoodie took on a life of its own and became an anti-establishment and anti-government symbol of secrecy and discretion. The hoodie as a fashion item came to represent mystery and silent acceptance when worn and was often connected to criminal activity portrayed by the media in films, songs, and other forms of entertainment. Today, the hoodie commands a unique and central place in pop culture and fashion, and has become a staple of people’s wardrobes.

In creating a fashion line inspired by legal documents like the confidential informant agreement form, the connection to Tupac and the complicated relationship between the hoodie and the rapper require a deep understanding of not only Tupac’s legacy, but also his image and the overall movement he helped galvanize with his life and music. From the moment Tupac left us, he became a larger-than-life figure and part of that larger mythology was undoubtedly reflected in the fact that he wore the hoodie almost exclusively. The lines between Tupac the man and Tupac the idea have become blurred over the years and the hoodie has been a central part of that mystery.

Integrating fashion and law and creating a collection of clothing based on the confidential informant agreement form and the larger hoodie narrative created by Tupac can present itself in a variety of different ways. The sheer secrecy of the document is a powerful design element that can be tapped into to create clothes that are both elegant and yet also maintain an aura of alienation. As the law says, “Secrecy is a great part of [mystery]”.