Swearing-in wear: Many big fashion players are getting in the game of creating inauguration-themed clothing. It’s like wearing school colors to rev up spirit for the big pep rally, in this case, the swearing in of Barack Obama on Tuesday.
Derek Lam says the design of his shirt for the Presidential Inaugural Committee with graphic rows of zeros and “Obama” and “01-20-09” at the bottom was inspired by tickertape.
“It’s dialing back to zero because we’re starting fresh.”
Bill Jemas is using the inauguration as a platform for his new peace-focused brand, Intelligent Design. It’s a chance to promote fashionable activism at a time when activism has become fashionable, Jemas says. His favorite is a simple purple map of the United States with the word “inaugurate.”
At Zazzle.com, an on-demand retail Web site, apparel has been the best-selling Obama category, but the company also reports brisk sales of hats, shoes, skateboards and other paraphernalia. There are a total of 113,000 Obama-inspired products on the site, according to spokeswoman Karen DeMarco, with more than 30,000 dedicated to “Yes We Can” or “Yes We Did.”
Jana Eggers, chief executive of Spreadshirt, a personalized apparel company, meanwhile, has seen an increasing number of items with Obama’s face on it.
“His face is the focus of the design. It’s like he’s ready to be carved into Mount Rushmore.”
Samantha Critchell
Associated Press
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