M.I.A. Reveals New Conspiracy-Lined Clothing Brand Ohmni
M.I.A. recently debuted Ohmni, a new brand of clothing that she’s been teasing, earning both high praise and sharp criticism from fans in the process. The reflective silver urban wear might not be for everyone — especially with its hefty price tag — but what has people scratching their heads is its self-proclaimed function.
“OHMNI is your last frontier at preserving your privacy, autonomy, and rights over your body and your data,” she declares on the brand’s website, assuring fans: “This is not your artist foray into fashion. This is a necessity.” Part of that necessity is shared as a garble of buzzwords — like digital crypto and hackable humans — as well as claims that the garments are anti-surveillance, have electromagnetic shielding, are anti-bacterial, and more.
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Beneath recent posts announcing the new line, fans voiced their appreciation and concern regarding the design and language surrounding Ohmni. Some valued the sleek, minimalist look, while plenty of others echoed the intersection between conspiracy theories and fashion that it espouses. “If the conspiracy theorists are wrong, good for you, you own some beautiful clothes made with pure silver and precious metals,” she reasons with fans. “But, if they are right, you just might have saved the future of humanity.”
Fans on social media platforms were quick to point out that an artist vehemently against capitalist systems seems to have cashed in ($100 for a silver bucket hat, $400 for a puffer jacket) on selling people expensive tin-foil hats. Others saw it as an extension of controversial anti-vax claims M.I.A. — and 5g related conspiracies — made during the COVID pandemic or made connections to her vocal ministration of Christian mysticism. Replying to a commenter who asked if the clothing might diminish the effect of a vaccine, she replied, “the clothes block signals. It can work inside out and outward in.”
Yet for all the blatant conspiracies, there is plenty that muddles the water, especially when she’s promoting the brand on social media with little quips like: “OHMNI WEAR GOES WELL WITH ANY TESLA DRIVING HUMANS, WHO WANT TO DRIVE COOL ELECTRIC CARS AND STILL WANT PROTECTION FROM EMF WHILE DRIVING.” You’d be forgiven for thinking there is some satire in this if a t-shirt wasn’t $200. But maybe you can’t put a price tag on owning the “armour of the modern knight in the age of modern technological warfare.”
Despite the skewed beliefs and sentiments that surround Ohmni, M.I.A. continues to urge support for a free Palestine and shedding light on the genocide being perpetuated against its people, as well as illuminating past atrocities like the Tamil genocide.
