Opening Ceremony is being accused of attempting to profit off the growing resistance against Donald Trump’s presidency.
The NYC label’s Spring 2017 Action Capsule collection, which debuted last week, features $75 – $95 imported tees and hoodies with words like “Defy,” “Protest,” “Unite,” and “Fight,” printed on the front, and is accompanied by a marketing campaign that encourages customers to “Take Action” by purchasing pieces from the line.
Critics were quick to call out the collection as disingenuous, as neither the press release, nor the advertising campaign, nor the company’s website made any mention of whether proceeds were being donated to charity. And, because no real change or progress could ever possibly come from someone simply buying an overpriced designer sweatshirt.
After days of public scrutiny, particularly on social media, Opening Ceremony announced that 100% of the profits from the collection will go to the American Civil Liberties Union. Meanwhile, OC’s public relations firm, Black Frame, has been aggressively pitching an alternative story that the company had planned to donate the profits all along.
You can read more about the backlash against Opening Ceremony at The Fashion Law.
