Ironic retail gets even more ironic as Urban Outfitters pulls “Gay Marriage” t-shirts

It's been a poorly kept secret for years that the guy getting rich off Urban Outfitters' vast array of Bambi lamps and $150 Goodwill dresses is a super-conservative millionaire who does things like make five-figure donations to Rick Santorum. Over the years the hip-kitsch retail empire has come under criticism for everything from manufacturing its fancy frumpwear in third world sweatshops to biting motifs from indie designers. But one thing's for sure: UO has never let any right-wing loyalties interfere with its ability to make a buck (or 40) on a t-shirt bearing a political, controversial, or stupid slogan (cue flashback to "I Did Justin 3 Times!").

So when the chain suddenly yanked "I Support Gay Marriage" t-shirts from its California stores last week, speculation began accumulating that the corporation's politics may be finally showing up on the sales floor. Since then, the store's reps have made some weak excuses, and conscientious post-adolescents have started to consider furnishing their first apartments elsewhere. After all, nothing spells irony like the proceeds of an Obama shirt going straight into the Republican pot.

-- JESSANNE COLLINS

Comments

[NativeNYker]

If its that serious, let gays put their money where the cocks generally are & boycott.

xo
Rants, Thoughts & Merde
http://rantsthoughtsmerde.blogspot.com

[MikeNYC]

Why would anyone care what Urban Outfitters sells? You can get the same stuff at the Goodwill for a lot less. It will probably make those shirts collectable, however. Watch for them on Ebay.