Style That Offends More Than Just The Eyes

Retail stores are constantly turning out new products in attempts to meet demand and stay ahead in a highly competitive industry.  Unfortunately, such rapid design and manufacturing of products means that not all of the items are screened thoroughly and some of the final merchandise is in very poor taste.  When I say “in poor taste” I do not mean that these items are in last seasons styles, are ugly, are cheaply made, or might be considered immodest.  I mean that I find these products to be outright offensive. Luckily so do thousands of other people across the Internet. Outcry on social media can quickly call attention to a brand’s insensitivity.

According to Yahoo “Social media certainly plays a part in raising awareness for a brand’s ethical and social responsibility. Consumers understand their power to call things out more than ever before… All it takes is one unhappy customer to trumpet these types of social injustices… we’re living in an age of instant media… which means that brands need to be more self-aware.”

One of the main items in question in the Yahoo article was a "punk rock ring for men" released by Sears. What made it punk rock? It had a swastika on it.

www.washingtontimes.com

The immediate backlash across Twitter and Facebook following the release of an offensive product can cause a company to pull it as quickly as possible and often leads to a public apology.  This consequence, while not severe, could damage a retailer’s public image and so will hopefully encourage more careful thought about the message sent by their products. 

There have been quite a few interesting shirts sold (and discontinued) over the past several years. Let’s take a look!

Check out this headline: Urban Outfitters apologizes for its blood-red-stained Kent State sweatshirt

Another tasteful release from that company, their “Eat Less” t-shirt. 

nypost.com

We have a couple lovely selections marketed towards young girls that completely devalue their intelligence.
Here's one from the Children's Place which reads "My Best Subjects: Shopping, Music, Dancing, Math." Each item is checked off except for math and below it is printed "Well, nobody's perfect"

nymag.com

And another from JC Penny that says "I'm too pretty to do homework so my brother has to do it for me."

nypost.com

I believe that these companies should be free to print whatever they want per The First Amendment.  Consumers are also free not to buy these products and to speak out against them and I fully encourage them to exercise that right.