Everyone knows the store Urban Outfitters and most of us love the store. Right now, not so many people are respecting the store for what they did. Urban Outfitters is known for its vintage vibe in fashion, which is why they were selling a Kent State sweatshirt decorated with a red stained pattern with some holes for $129 and only one was available for purchase. The only bad thing is, many people saw it more like a blood-splatter like design and in May 1970, the Ohio National Guard opened fire on a group of Kent State University students that left 4 students dead. (Also known as the infamous "Kent State Massacre") Urban Outfitters then sent an apology claiming that the product was to be part of their sun-faded vintage collection. The bright red stains and holes, which seemed to suggest blood, were simply a "discoloration from the original shade of the shirt and the holes are from natural wear and fray." "We deeply regret that this item was perceived negatively." said Urban Outfitters. Kent State then said, "we take great offense to a company using our pain for their publicity and profit. This item is beyond poor taste and trivializes a loss of life that still hurts the Kent State community today. We invite the leaders of this company as well as anyone who invested in this item to tour our May 4 Visitors Center, which opened 2 years ago to gain perspective on what happened 44 years ago and apply its meaning to the future."
I think that even if they wanted to go for a more vintage look, they shouldn't use a university that makes it look like something you would wear for halloween because many students have pride in where they're going to school. I wouldn't want a store selling my school's merchandise looking like that. I'm glad the store took it off from their clothes' line. What makes it worse is that something horrendous actually happened at the university and this sweatshirt just made it even worse and it brought a lot of controversy. I love Urban Outfitter's clothes, but this was a bit too far, wouldn't you think?
I don't understand how Urban Outfitters wouldn't know about the Kent State Massacre. Even if they truly were unaware of it, why would you create a faded red college sweatshirt that looks like it has blood stains on it?
ReplyDelete-Kennedi Mayes
they did this with some overalls too!
ReplyDeleteWasn't Urban Outfitters the store who also made the tank top that for girls that said "eat less"? This is definitely an enormous step over the line and even though there is no legal consequence for this, I feel that Urban Outfitters should face some type of consequence
ReplyDeleteI now have another opinion on Urban as a regular customer because of this inappropriate item.
ReplyDeleteTd Simons 2pd