Controversy ensued after clothing manufacturer Urban Outfitters released a ‘vintage’ Kent State University sweatshirt that appears to be soaked in blood.
Thousands took to Twitter to voice their disgust over what many have called a “tasteless” and “rude” product. The $129 shirt has since been removed from the website.
What the hell is wrong with Urban Outfitters?
What the hell is wrong with Urban Outfitters honestly
— Hayley Farris (@hayleyfarris_) September 15, 2014
They love offending people.
All I get from urban outfitters is sunglasses but they love offending people every few months & it’s making it harder & harder to shop there
— paper in a book… (@_paigemarisa_) September 15, 2014
Poor taste.
I’m amazed and shocked that no one – no one?! – in Urban Outfitters’ hierarchy flagged this as, maybe, in poor taste? http://t.co/oPF5HhWRWS
— Frocktalk (@Frocktalk) September 15, 2014
The company quickly issued an apology for the shirt, claiming they did not intend to make the shirt appear as if it were soaked in blood. Instead, the company claims, the shirt was merely meant to look “vintage” with the red stains being “discoloration.”
“The one-of-a-kind item was purchased as part of our sun-faded vintage collection. There is no blood on this shirt nor has this item been altered in any way. The red stains are discoloration from the original shade of the shirt and the holes are from natural wear and fray.”
This seems incredibly unlikely given the distinct splatter on the shirt and the company’s reputation for selling edgy and controversial clothing.
The company recently came under fire for selling a shirt featuring a beer drinking Jesus for Saint Patrick’s day.
Another shirt featured a six-point star on yellow fabric which many claimed resembled the uniform forced on jewish people under the Nazi regime.
According to Buzzfeed, this strategy of “tone-deaf edginess” isn’t paying off among Millennial shoppers. Last month the company reported a 3.7% decline in sales and a 12% drop in sales in last year’s fourth quarter.