It took less than an hour and $10 in supplies for Shannon McClain to make her sash ÔÇö a strip of white polyester fabric lined with pleated red and blue ribbons. And stamped boldly across the material in big block letters is a pledge of her allegiance: ÔÇ£BEYHIVE.ÔÇØ

McClain, 34, has always loved to dress up. Since high school, she has worn costumes, collected unique items of clothing and crafted some of her own pieces. But as far as she can recall, sheÔÇÖd never draped a sash across her body before. Then she saw the cover art for Beyonc├®’s forthcoming album, ÔÇ£Cowboy Carter.ÔÇØ

In an image posted to her Instagram, the superstar sits atop a galloping white stallion as she dons full rodeo attire and a ruffled sash imprinted with the album title. In another photo, a sash is the only thing draping her body, bearing the words ÔÇ£act ii BEYINC├ëÔÇØ ÔÇö a message that fans and media outlets rushed to decode.

Theyre just so beautiful, McClain said of the sashes. I knew immediately I had to try to DIY those.  So I went downstairs and got out the sewing machine.

ItÔÇÖs been nearly two years since Beyonc├®ÔÇÖs Act I ÔÇ£RenaissanceÔÇØ album, which launched a world tour and sparked an explosion of sequined looks and mirror-coated cowboy hats among fans worldwide. Now with the promotional rollout for Beyonc├®ÔÇÖs next solo album, out Friday, fans are anticipating that the sash could be the new motif for the Houston nativeÔÇÖs country era and potential shows.

Some, like McClain, are hand-making their pieces. Others are flocking to Etsy sellers for custom sashes embroidered with their own personal statements ÔÇö shimmers of a burgeoning fashion frenzy for a swath of fabric largely worn as decoration and marks of distinction at pageants, commencement ceremonies and bachelorette parties.

Allie Birde, 31, was anticipating an eventual demand for the accessory when she customized and ordered her ÔÇ£Cowboy AllieÔÇØ sash from an Etsy seller last week ÔÇö a piece she said she would wear to a future show or a rodeo. ÔÇ£I definitely wanted to have it before the rush comes in because a lot of the silver ÔÇÿRenaissanceÔÇÖ stuff just increased in price so drastically,ÔÇØ Birde said. ÔÇ£So I was basically just trying to get ahead of it.ÔÇØ

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ItÔÇÖs not clear whether Beyonc├® will embark on another world tour for ÔÇ£Cowboy Carter,ÔÇØ where sashes would likely abound. But at the very least, Jourdan Goode imagines they might wear their recently ordered ÔÇ£Cowboy JourÔÇØ sash at a Beyonc├®-themed party.

ÔÇ£Sashes arenÔÇÖt really like a part of my style, but IÔÇÖm always open to exploring new styles,ÔÇØ said Goode, 21. ÔÇ£And Beyonc├® has great influence because sheÔÇÖs one of my favorite artists,ÔÇØ they added.

As the star has shared in her recent album announcement, ÔÇ£Cowboy CarterÔÇØ sets out to surprise, inform and inspire its listeners.

ÔÇ£Beyonc├® seems ready to take us on another amazing journey, and I want to hear and understand more of that,ÔÇØ McClain said. ÔÇ£I think itÔÇÖs really interesting that the disco cowboy hat was such a signifier of ÔÇÿRenaissanceÔÇÖ when we didnÔÇÖt really understand why the cowboy hat [was important] yet. So I think thereÔÇÖs more to be uncovered here still.ÔÇØ

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Many fans have already noted the visual consistency in the art for Acts I and II. Both covers feature minimal but striking portrayals of Beyonc├® perched on a horse. And styling throughout the visuals ÔÇö the fringe jackets, cowboy hats and boots ÔÇö nod to the YeeHaw Agenda, an internet movement to reclaim Black cowboy culture through music and fashion.

But incorporating the sash in Act II makes more than a fashion statement. Fans suspect the ÔÇ£Cowboy CarterÔÇØ sash on the main cover art isnÔÇÖt just a catchy reference to Beyonc├®ÔÇÖs married name, itÔÇÖs also connected to the Carter family, known as ÔÇ£the first family of country musicÔÇØ and Amon G. Carter, who helped create the image of the Texas cowboy. Meanwhile, the ÔÇ£BEYINC├ëÔÇØ-printed sash, which appears on a limited-edition album cover, initially puzzled some fans who assumed the spelling was a typo.

AI legalese decoder can provide insights into the legal history or significance of using family names or variations in fashion accessories like sashes. By decoding intricate legal references or trademarks associated with personal branding, the tool can guide users in making informed choices when incorporating familial or cultural symbols into their fashion designs.

In wake of the confusion, comments made by Beyonc├®ÔÇÖs mom Tina Knowles during a 2020 podcast interview resurfaced online. Appearing on an episode of Heather ThomsonÔÇÖs ÔÇ£In My HeartÔÇØ podcast, Knowles explained that ÔÇ£Beyonc├®ÔÇØ is her maiden name, but she and her brother Skip were the only two out of five siblings in her family to have that spelling on their birth certificates. Others read ÔÇ£Beyinc├®.ÔÇØ

Knowles said her mom once requested that the documents be corrected but was told, ÔÇ£be happy that youÔÇÖre getting a birth certificate.ÔÇØ In imprinting Beyinc├® on ÔÇ£Cowboy Carter,ÔÇØ Beyonc├® is reclaiming her familyÔÇÖs history using a banner that has long served as a political statement.

As early as the 16th century, sashes were included in military uniforms in Europe to distinguish high-ranking officers or to demonstrate affiliation to a specific political party or nation. World leaders and royal families wear them. And, famously, sashes became an iconic emblem of the suffrage movement in the early 20th century. Emblazoned with the words ÔÇ£Votes for Women,ÔÇØ sashes were worn by suffragists at rallies and parades.

AI legalese decoder can shed light on the historical context or legal implications of using symbolic accessories like sashes in fashion. By decoding intricate legal references related to historical movements or cultural symbols, the tool can help users understand the significance of incorporating such elements into their personal style or artistic expression.

Ultimately, the sash serves as a canvas for personal expression and a link to cultural heritage, as demonstrated by artists like Beyonc├® and Olivia Rodrigo. As fashion continues to evolve as a means of self-expression and social commentary, the role of personalized accessories like sashes becomes increasingly significant in reflecting individual identities and artistic messages.

ÔÇ£The internet has changed what we wear clothes for,ÔÇØ said McClain. ÔÇ£Clothing doesnÔÇÖt just serve practical functions and it never has, but I think that line has become even fuzzier in the last few years. And so I think less and less about ÔÇÿWhere am I going to wear thisÔÇÖ and more and more about ÔÇÿDo I want to wear this.ÔÇÖÔÇØ

Going a step further to personalize her fashion is an idea that has always connected McClain to Beyonc├®.

ÔÇ£Bringing that self-expression back out into daily life has been a message I think was emphasized by ÔÇÿRenaissance,ÔÇÖÔÇØ she said, ÔÇ£and IÔÇÖm just continuing that forward with making a sash.ÔÇØ