An offensive tapestry debuted at Urban Outfitters has sparked recent uproar for resembling the uniforms the Nazis forced gay male prisoners to wear during the Holocaust.
Political theory and constitutional democracy sophomore Blake Isaacs, who is Jewish, said he was upset by the company's lack of research and its distasteful product.
“It hurts to see that clothing like this, intentional or not, sold in stores. I am offended that Urban Outfitters would put a product like this in stores without researching the design to make sure there would be no complications," Isaacs said.
The tapestry — called 'eerily reminiscent' of Nazi — is grey and white striped, with a pink upside down triangle on it.
"Anti-semitism is still prevalent in society and to see a design like this sold by a major clothing company is horrible and is counterproductive for a group of people trying to move forward from a tragedy," Isaacs said.
This is not the first time the retailer has pushed offensive products in their stores. In the past, they have offended Jews, Native Americans, liberals, conservatives and those suffering with eating disorders.
Urban Outfitters has sold controversial products in the past, including a vintage bloodstained Kent State University crewneck, resembling the massacre where four students were killed in 1970, a shirt with a six-pointed badge resembling the Star of David, "Ghettopoly," and an "Eat Less" T-shirt — to name a few.
“This is a company that is just flirting along the lines of the outrages and my guess is that it’s doing it for a purpose,” director of Jewish studies and social relations and policy professor Kenneth Waltzer said. “For headlines, notoriety, in each case I know they are quick to withdraw the item.”
In each of these cases, Walter said, they’ve withdrawn the item so it’s not put on the market, and then reap the benefits about the publicity of that item.
“It’s rather something in the design aspect of bringing products to market and they’re pushing the envelope in a direction where it shouldn’t go,” Walter said.
Identifying as bisexual and Jewish, James Madison freshman Olivia Brenner feels the tapestry attacked communities that she’s a part of.
“In that way it’s an issue that I need to have an opinion on,” Brenner said. “Just by boycotting it and spreading the word, I guess I feel like I’m doing my duty enough.”
Urban Outfitters is in walking distance for MSU students, located on Grand River Avenue, and is geared toward hipster fashion and mainstream pop culture attire.
As of Monday, the tapestry was no longer listed on urbanoutfitters.com.
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