US Streetwear brand Bstroy unveiled their Spring 2020 menswear collection in New York over the weekend, which included bullet hole-riddled hoodies resembling high-profile mass school shootings. I wish I was making this up.
The hoodies, designed by Atlanta duo Brick Owens and Duey Catorze, were adorned with logos from Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech, Stoneman Douglas and Columbine.
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In a feeble attempt to justify this decision, they gave people a note at the show:
“Sometimes life can be painfully ironic. Like the irony of dying violently in a place you consider to be a safe, controlled environment, like school.”
“We are reminded all the time of life’s fragility, shortness, and unpredictability yet we are also reminded of its infinite potential. It is this push and pull that creates the circular motion that is the cycle of life. Nirvana is the goal we hope to reach through meditation and healthy practices that counter our destructive baits. Samsara is the cycle we must transcend to reach Nirvana.”
Their Instagram is literally being flooded with messages of disgust and disbelief.
“This isn’t even edgy or someone trying to open a conversation, it’s just distasteful,” commented one user. “Making money off tragedy,” said another.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2cO2Nwhr_e/
They haven’t said anything about donating their profits to charity, but I can imagine they’ll turn around now and be like ‘OMG it was for charity, of course’ just to avoid completely killing their brand. That being said, who in their right minds would purchase and willingly walk around the streets with one of these hoodies, subsequently labelling themselves as someone who would willingly capitalise on hardship in the name of fashion? Shaking my damn head endlessly.
