Camouflage clothing may be having a moment – but in our violent world, is that wise? | Ellie Violet Bramley

<p>Some say it’s just ‘a stylish alternative to denim’, but the politics of who gets to wear military-adjacent garb is increasingly fraught</p><p>On a recent visit to Gaza, Steve Witkoff, the real estate mogul and Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, wore a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-envoy-witkoff-visits-gaza-aid-operation-that-un-calls-unsafe-2025-08-01/">“camouflage” top</a>. I write “camouflage” in inverted commas because it was blue and, amid the dusty devastation of Gaza, there was nothing about it – or the bumbag he wore with it – that helped Witkoff blend in.</p><p>It’s an odd paradox that a pattern designed to melt military personnel into their surroundings – the word is derived from the French <em>camoufler</em>, “to disguise” – when worn by certain people, in certain ways, does the opposite. Witkoff being a glaring example.</p><p>Ellie Violet Bramley is a freelance writer</p><p><em><strong>Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tone/letters"> letters</a> section, please <a href="mailto:guardian.letters@theguardian.com?body=Please%20include%20your%20name,%20full%20postal%20address%20and%20phone%20number%20with%20your%20letter%20below.%20Letters%20are%20usually%20published%20with%20the%20author%27s%20name%20and%20city/town/village.%20The%20rest%20of%20the%20information%20is%20for%20verification%20only%20and%20to%20contact%20you%20where%20necessary.">click here</a>.</strong></em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/05/camouflage-clothing-fashion-moment-violent-world">Continue reading...</a>