Michigan Sheriff Switches to Black and White Uniforms Due to Popularity of ‘Orange Is the New Black”

Black and White Jumpsuits

Sheriff William Federspiel of Saginaw county, Michigan recently switched out the jail’s orange uniforms to those with black and white stripes. This decision was made due to concerns about the recent popularity of orange jumpsuits inspired by the runaway Netflix hit Orange is the New Black.

We decided that the black-and-white stripes would be the best way to go because it signifies ‘jail inmate,’ and I don’t see people out there wanting to wear black-and-white stripes…When the lines get blurred between the culture outside the jail and the culture within the jail…I have to do something to redefine those boundaries, because they’ve been blurred far too often in public culture.

Black White and Orange

Black and White Jumpsuit

images via MLive

Thanks Shelby DeNike!

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.