By Abha Bhattarai // Washington Post, June 21 2018

Just as the controversy over her husband’s immigration policies had begun to cool off, first lady Melania Trump touched off a new backlash. As she boarded a plane for Texas to visit immigrant children who were separated from their families at the border, a message blared from her $39 Zara jacket: “I really don’t care, do u?”

The choice, her spokeswoman said, conveyed “no hidden message.”

But slogan T-shirts and other statement-bearing pieces have become clothing-as-lightning-rod in an era of political unrest, according to fashion psychologists and retail experts.

Runways and store shelves have been filled in recent years with T-shirts bearing several messages: “We should all be feminists” shirts at Dior, “I am an immigrant” at Prabal Gurung, “People are people” at Christian Siriano. Even President Trump’s red “Make America Great Again” hats have become a way for people to express their views. The controversial Zara jacket is from two years ago and doesn’t appear to be for sale anymore on Zara.com.

“Slogan T-shirts have often been a vehicle for communication, and they’ve come back in vogue in the last year or two with the political upheaval in many countries, including our own,” said Wendy Liebmann, chief executive of consulting firm WSL Strategic Retail. “Fashion is a very powerful billboard, and it’s become a way people feel comfortable communicating a message without carrying placards or holding protest signs.”

Read the full article here.

By Abha Bhattarai // Washington Post, June 21 2018

Just as the controversy over her husband’s immigration policies had begun to cool off, first lady Melania Trump touched off a new backlash. As she boarded a plane for Texas to visit immigrant children who were separated from their families at the border, a message blared from her $39 Zara jacket: “I really don’t care, do u?”

The choice, her spokeswoman said, conveyed “no hidden message.”

But slogan T-shirts and other statement-bearing pieces have become clothing-as-lightning-rod in an era of political unrest, according to fashion psychologists and retail experts.

Runways and store shelves have been filled in recent years with T-shirts bearing several messages: “We should all be feminists” shirts at Dior, “I am an immigrant” at Prabal Gurung, “People are people” at Christian Siriano. Even President Trump’s red “Make America Great Again” hats have become a way for people to express their views. The controversial Zara jacket is from two years ago and doesn’t appear to be for sale anymore on Zara.com.

“Slogan T-shirts have often been a vehicle for communication, and they’ve come back in vogue in the last year or two with the political upheaval in many countries, including our own,” said Wendy Liebmann, chief executive of consulting firm WSL Strategic Retail. “Fashion is a very powerful billboard, and it’s become a way people feel comfortable communicating a message without carrying placards or holding protest signs.”

Read the full article here.

Thank you for your message.

Your message has been received and we will be contacting you shortly to follow-up. If you would like to speak to someone immediately feel free to give us a call.
212 . 924 . 7780

    Subscribe to our Shopper & Retail Trend Alerts.

    *All fields are mandatory.

    You can manage your subscriptions and unsubscribe at any time.

    Thanks for signing up!

    Check your inbox for an email from [email protected]. Make sure to check your spam folder and add us to your Safe Senders list. Please allow up to 48 hours for the messages to come through.

    Have Questions?

      Tells us a bit about you.

      You will receive an email with the download link shortly. Check your spam folder if you don't see it.

      Thank you. Check your inbox.

      Check your inbox to find your download link. Please be sure to check your spam folder if you can't find it.
      Contact us for questions: 212 . 924 . 7780

        How can we help you?

        Thank you for your message.

        Your message has been received and we will be contacting you shortly to follow-up. If you would like to speak to someone immediately feel free to give us a call.
        212 . 924 . 7780