By Karalee Kothe

It is 2016, and yet the fringe of the late 1960s and early 1970s is back on clothing and accessories creating a new, boho chic look. Boho style has strong “hippie” influences, including peasant blouses, flare jeans, suede, and the most audacious: fringe.

The twenty-first century fringe is prominent on jackets, purses and shoes, and according to Huffpost Style, fringe has already made an appearance on the runways of Ralph Lauren Polo and Mara Hoffman in 2015. It all began when fringe came into existence as an invention of the Native American tribes of the Plains to repel rainwater from the wearer.

In the 1920s, fringe made its first fashion debut on flapper dresses by adding length to the bottom of the “shockingly” short dresses. Then, in the late 1960s, right after the Civil Rights Act, the hippie movement was born that rejected mainstream values and and encouraged a “chill” lifestyle. Thus, fringe was the reflection of the hippie movement in fashion.

The Sonny and Cher Show (1971-74, 1976-77) was popular at the time and both Sonny and Cher sported suede jackets and pants with extremely long fringe. Also, the movie, Easy Rider, came out in 1969 and promoted fringe as a fashion trend. Fringe isn’t the only trend in full revival right now: any and all denim clothing, midi and maxi skirts and dresses, bell sleeves, and jumpsuits are all also from the 1960s and 70s.

In the end, wearing fringe makes a bold fashion statement and must be worn with the original confidence of the flappers and the hippies.