Fall fashion and student opinions clashed like stripes and plaids Thursday night at Gap, 435 E. Grand River Ave.

Members of MSU’s Students for Economic Justice protested the store’s fall fashion show to raise awareness about sweatshop labor.

“We came out to educate the public,” said member Zak Bleicher, an international relations and political theory and constitutional democracy sophomore. “We’re not supporting a boycott or anything, but they do a lot of bad things.”

In 1999, Gap Inc. was one of 48 companies named as defendants in a class action lawsuit, which argued the retailer engaged in unfair labor practices and mistreatment of workers in factories in the Northern Mariana Island of Saipan, east of the Philippines.

Gap employees refused to comment about the situation Thursday.

A statement on Gap Inc.’s Web site said the company is committed to treating workers fairly.

“Along with many other defendants, Gap Inc. continues to defend itself and believes that the federal court in Saipan will agree that the claims against Gap Inc. are entirely without merit,” the Web site says.

When Gap opened its East Lansing location last fall, more than 30 students from universities around the state came to protest the store’s opening.

But kinesiology sophomore Lindsay Allegra said even if Thursday’s protest makes her more aware, it won’t stop her from buying the Gap clothes she loves.

“This is one of my favorite stores,” she said. “I’m caught a little off guard, but it won’t make me go home and give away all my Gap clothes or anything.”

Nearly 15 protesters walked down the fashion show’s runway with signs saying “Dismantle this spectacle” and “This fashion show supports sweatshop labor,” and it wasn’t their first time strutting their stuff.

During the nationwide Student Labor Day of Action this spring, the student group held a Sweatshop Fashion Show. More than 80 students sported white T-shirts featuring names of companies such as Gap, Target, Ann Taylor and Disney.

Despite the protest, some people said the show was a success.

Cynthia Fortier, a hair and makeup artist from Douglas J Educational Center, 333 Albert Ave., said the event showcased new fall styles and cosmetic talent without ignoring student opinions.

“Even though there were protesters, it really flowed,” she said. “The clothes looked good, the makeup looked hot and they let the protesters come through and share their opinion.”