There’s something delightful about Europe’s embrace of Fred in the ’90s. Women’s Wear Daily infamously derided one of Miuccia Prada’s first runway shows, in 1990, as “The Flintstones meets The Jetsons.” “For them it was an insult,” Prada later said. “For me, it was a compliment, I loved it… Introducing reality, introducing the badness, introducing life, introducing culture. Fashion was, in general, a very stiff world where only design and glamour were relevant.”
At the time, Flintstone faces could be seen on many sweaters made by the Italian brand Iceberg. A nice Barney Rubble pullover could easily be worn out to an elegant dinner and trip to a nightclub. Long after his stint at Iceberg, the French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac continued to put Fred’s face on his pop-art-inspired garments. But American fashion designer Jeremy Scott arguably deserves the most credit for bearing the torch of raver Fred. For his spring-summer 2010 collection, he put on what must be the single most Flintstones-inspired runway show of all time. He added a club kid energy to the familiar cavewear, and has been fine tuning his obsession ever since, pushing the boundaries of what can be done with the customary pelt and haggard hemline. In 2011 he debuted his unforgettable Pebbles homage with the Bones shoe for Adidas and in 2022, under his creative direction, Moschino unveiled an entire collection celebrating his favorite subject. The standout shirt depicts Fred at his stone turntables, decked out in club gear, heralded by the words “Yabba Dabba DJ.”
It’s hard to look at this and not see it as a tribute to the legendary Yabba Dabba Dance CD covers of yore. Ironically, when once asked about his inspirations, Scott said, “It’s fun, it’s exciting. Not everyone can relate to some weird, obscure reference from German art. You know what I mean?” A confounding answer, considering weird, obscure German artists are among the biggest Fred respecters ever!
It’s hard to pinpoint why The Flintstones has retained its appeal in recent decades. Maybe that’s why the iconography has endured. Recently, a new school of discourse fiercely dedicated to the philosophy, politics, and sociology of rave culture has emerged to niche acclaim. I’m not confident this analysis is the best way to approach The Flintstones, though. While there is plenty to gain by applying the lens of scholarship, there is also a raw appeal to simply throwing on an orange-and-black-spotted loincloth, popping a pill, and yelling “Yabba dabba doo”—a phrase that transcends language—on a dance floor.
All great parties must come to an end; some are over before they even start. Sadly, the immersive Stoneage Omakase pop-up at the Flintstone House never happened. Hillsborough is one of five richest zip codes in the country, and many of its residents are not charmed by the house. In a 2019 lawsuit, a local group accused Florence Fang of creating “a highly visible eyesore out of keeping with community standards” and called it a “public nuisance.” Fang settled in 2021, retaining her statues and “Yabba Dabba Doo” signage. But when the pop-up was announced, the town fought back, getting it closed over a technicality regarding the definition of “restaurant.” Accusations of “elitism” have been thrown in every direction in this debacle. Once again, Fred triggered issues of class anxiety and taste.
Defending her architectural landmark and its namesake, Fang, in the style of Fred’s positivity-pilled old Eurodance champions, proudly declared, “It is truly an American memory that makes people smile and feel good about themselves. Let’s keep Fred and the Dino alive and work together to keep on smiling.” It’s pretty hard to argue with that sentiment. Plans for the pop-up to reopen are currently on hold. But the Flintstone House is one of the sturdiest structures in the area, built to endure wildfires and earthquakes; this monument to Fred, Wilma, Pebbles, Bamm-Bamm, and Dino will likely be around for a long time to come. Maybe someday, in a more enlightened future, someone will throw a boneheaded rave there in celebration of the legendary Fred Feuerstein.
