Urban Outfitters has been and continues to be the go-to shopping destination for new, hipster styles, but how far are people willing to go to call themselves fashionable?
Urban Outfitters has been making headlines recently not because of their stylish clothing, but rather because of the extremely controversial items they have decided to sell. The most recent in a string of offensive pieces is a tapestry that is disturbingly similar to the forced uniforms of concentration camp prisoners. The tapestry features gray and white stripes with a pink triangle; this pattern is eerily reflective of the specific uniform forced upon gay men in concentration camps. Whether intentional or not, this sales decision has sparked controversy because it is sending the message that casual room decoration, reminiscent of Holocaust prisoner uniforms, is acceptable. The Anti-Defamation League is working to stop Urban Outfitters from selling the tapestry on the grounds that it is extraordinarily offensive.
This is not the first controversial item that Urban Outfitters has sold. In fact, it is apparently not even the first Holocaust-related item that Urban Outfitters has tried to sell. In 2012, Urban Outfitters tried to sell a shirt with a six-pointed star on it that appeared to be the Star of David. This was reminiscent of the stars that Jews were forced to wear on their shirts during the Holocaust. Again, this was a very offensive shirt, yet people were still buying it for $100. In order to be wearing the new style, people paid a lot of money for an article of clothing that was clearly distasteful shirt. Urban Outfitters stopped selling the shirts only when forced to by the Anti-Defamation League.
It didn’t stop there. Going beyond Holocaust-related apparel, Urban Outfitters has also tried to sell other terribly controversial fashion items. For example, they horrifically sold a “vintage” bloodstained Kent State sweatshirt. The sweatshirt was taken as a reference to the Kent State Massacre where four students were killed during a Vietnam War Protest. This sweatshirt, appearing to be covered in blood, made a bold statement despite the fact that Urban Outfitters claimed that it had nothing to do with the massacre. In reality, what else could it be referencing?
Other controversies from Urban Outfitters include the infamous “Eat Less” shirt which seemed to promote anorexia and the “I Support Same Sex Marriage” shirt. They pulled the same-sex marriage shirt from shelves after only a week because they believed it was too controversial, even though this shirt was one to send a positive message. Compared to their previously sold controversial clothes, why is the one Urban Outfitters chose to pull from their shelves the one that was seemingly least offensive?
Urban Outfitters may be putting out these controversial clothing options, but the consumer is the one responsible for buying them. The store sells them because people are willing to buy them. Do the consumers care about the message they are sending when they buy these items?
Would you buy something so controversial just because a fashionable store like Urban Outfitters was selling it?