#cholitas

ImillaSkate !

Reconnecting with their ancestry while finding sisterhood through skateboarding, Imillaskate is an indigenous female skate collective based in the Bolivian city of Cochabamba – bonded through clothing as a symbol of cultural pride.

Finding their feet in the foothills of the Bolivian Andes, the young women join a rising number of cholitas, adopting the traditional pollera as a reclamation of indigenous heritage and the female strength carried through Aymara or Quechua traditions.

Travelling to Cochabamba, directors Rebecca Basaure and Mariano Carranza center the collective and their role in the community for short documentary ImillaSkate - The Cholita Skaters of Bolivia.

rebellionChallenging gender stereotypes through their contradictions, while making space for indigenous pride, the young women carve out a story of rebellion, reclamation, and radical joy against a landscape where racial prejudice and gender violence remain an ever-present concern. ...

Marginalized groups are using fashion and self-expression to challenge stereotypes and rewrite the narrative. Let's take a look at three powerful examples:

Hijab Queens: Rocking the Streets with Faith

Forget the tired trope of the oppressed Muslim woman. Bands like Voice of Baceprot are rewriting the script. These Indonesian teenagers are shredding on heavy metal guitars, all while rocking their hijabs. Their music is fierce, their style is bold, and their message is clear: Muslim women can be anything they want to be, on and off the stage. Their streetwear becomes a powerful symbol of defying expectations and embracing their unique identities.

Punching Through Barriers: Trans Boxers Find Strength in Style

Places like Gleason's Gym are proving that the fight game isn't just for a select few. Trans boxers are entering the ring, defying societal norms, and redefining what it means to be a fighter. Their courage and determination are an inspiration, and their streetwear becomes a badge of honor – a symbol of their journey and the battles they fight both inside and outside the ring.

Cholita Skateboarders: Shredding in Skirts

In Bolivia, a group of indigenous women known as Cholitas are taking the skate scene by storm. These women are defying expectations by rocking their traditional pollera skirts while mastering kickflips and ollies. Their style is a powerful mix of tradition and rebellion, a statement that says you can be proud of your heritage while embracing a modern passion.

“Not too many years ago, the term ‘Cholita’ was a derogatory name for young Indigenous women. Nowadays, Cholitas proudly wear traditional clothing to break ethnic barriers.” 

Cholitas Bravas - Luchadoras (Wrestlers) by Celia D Luna. Full series available in our Gallery ✷ #ajifagallery

✷ www.ajifa.co

In this image three suspected members of the Black Widows, an alleged pachuca gang are taken into police custody, August 9, 1942.

Pachucas were Mexican American women who wore zoot suits during World War II, also known as “cholitas,” “slick chicks,” and “lady zoot suiters.” The suit was a symbol of rebellion due to the rationing of cloth for the war effort. Wearing the longer and loose-fitting jackets and pants was therefore seen as being unpatriotic.

Cholitas!! La Paz, Bolivia