In 1975, Leroy Eldridge Cleaver (August 31, 1935 – May 1, 1998), a former Black Panther leader, decided to become a fashion designer. He created “virility” codpiece pants designed to liberate men from “penis binding.”
William Klein, Eldridge Cleaver, Black Panther (1970)
Eldridge Cleaver with Fashion Designs
LOS ANGELES - JANUARY 1978: Former Black Panther Eldridge Cleaver (1935 – 1998) photographs his designer menswear creations featuring trousers with a codpiece displayed in store in Los Angeles California, USA circa 1978. (Photo by Nik Wheeler/Corbis via Getty Images.)
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Former Black Panther Eldridge Cleaver Unveils his Codpiece Trousers Fashion Design in Los Angles in 1980s
LOS ANGELES- JANUARY 1981; Former Black Panther and political activist Eldridge Cleaver turns fashion designer as he reveals his line of mens pants with codpiece at fashion gallery in Los Angeles in 1981; (Photo by Nik Wheeler/Corbis via Getty Images)
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Eldridge Cleaver Posing For A Photo
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 5: Eldridge Cleaver (1935 – 1998) posing for a photo on June 5, 1978 in New York, New York. (Photo by Santi Visalli/Getty Images)
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The ‘rebirth’ of Eldridge Cleaver; The old Cleaver wanted to overthrow the ‘American nightmare.’ The new Cleaver is promoting the ‘American dream.’ Is he a convert or an opportunist?; Cleaver
The New York Times, T. D. Allman
January 16, 1977
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Eldridge Cleaver in the Pants He Developed
Eldridge Cleaver, Paris, 1975. Photo by René Burri. Courtesy of Magnum Photos.
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[Clothing label]: Eldridge Cleaver Unlimited
From Between the Pages Rare Books: Unbound. Pictorial clothing label. Illustrated with a fig leaf bearing the company's initials. Measuring approximately 2¾” x 1¼”. In fine, unused condition. While living in exile in Paris, Cleaver released a line of codpiece-revival "virility pants" that he called the Cleavers. He incorporated his clothing line, Eldridge Cleaver Ltd, after returning to California, opening a factory and West Hollywood shop. An unusual and apparently uncommon piece of ephemera from Cleaver's line of “virility pants."
Item #527670
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Return of the Native
Mother Jones Magazine, Paul Jacobs
August 1976
pp. 5-6
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Words for My Comrades: A Political History of Tupac Shakur
Dean Van Nguyen
2025
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People Are Talking About
Jet Magazine
October 5, 1978
pp .42
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Cleaver means business: Revolutionary line of pants
The San Francisco Examiner, James A. Finefrock
August 12, 1975
Page 1
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Eldridge Cleaver's New Pants
Every revolution needs a haberdasher, right?
The Harvard Crimson, Mark Stillman
September 26, 1975
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Eldridge de Paris's "New Fall Collection," featuring Eldridge Cleaver modeling the clothing line [Advertisement]
Rolling Stone Magazine
1975
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Eldridge Cleaver Designs Pants 'For Men Only'
Jet Magazine
September 21, 1978
pp. 22-24
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Radical Chic Share
The New York Times, Horacio Silva
September 23, 2001
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Eldridge Cleaver Unlimited
Boo-Horay
ca. 1975. Maroon denim pants, approx. 37 inches length.
The exceptionally rare codpiece pants manufactured and distributed by the former Black Panther, Eldridge Cleaver.
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Eldridge Cleaver Designs Paris Virility Trousers
Jet Magazine
August 28, 1975
pp. 55
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Words of the Week
Jet Magazine
November 20, 1975
pp. 38
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Re-Dressing Race and Gender
The Performance and Politics of
Eldridge Cleaver’s Pants
Fashion Studies, Art Blake
2018
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Eldridge Cleaver shows off his male liberation front
The San Francisco Examiner
August 15, 1975
Page 11
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