Exposed: Urban Outfitters – Do you REALLY know?
This is a guest post is by Miss Elle, owner of Broke & Beautiful and my partner in crime at The Demoiselles. Elle is extremely passionate about ethics, equality, and making sure the fashion community is a respected group of educated people. Hopefully this expose will give you some new information about some of the most popular retailors. Thanks, Elle, for adding my readers to the more educated portion of the fashion community!
Readers: once you’ve read the truth about Urban Outfitters, check out some online shopping alternatives here. If you like what you see, don’t forget to subscribe to my feed, check out Elle’s site and/or follow me on Twitter!
Image courtesy of Forbes
Do you know this man? Any ideas at all?
Good. You’re not supposed to, if he has his way. In case you’re in a curious mood, however, his name is Richard Hayne and he is the President and Founder of hipster and 20-something fashion mecca, Urban Outfitters.
What? How? But he’s… nothing like you expected, is he? Hm!
Alright, since we’re playing “introductions”, let’s try another one! Do you know this man?:
Image Courtesy of Drexel University
He’s a lovely, dapper looking fellow, now isn’t he? His name is Senator Rick Santorum. He’s a squishy, right-wing conservative from Pennsylvania. He enjoys spending his time with his wife and seven kids… Playing badminton, roasting turkeys and doing all he can to ensure that gay rights are a thing of the past.
Wait, wait, wait – back up?
Yes, Rick Santorum – while still serving on the Senate (1995 – 2007) – was not only hailed as a reliable ally of GWB, but is also infamous for his ability to compare ideas. Yes! He’s quite good. Here’s a quote where he makes one of his “best” comparisons, which fell on the ears of the AP:
“If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual [gay] sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything,” – Metro Weekly, Washington DC’s LGBT Newsagazine
Um, excuse me? Homosexuality equates to incest, polygamy, and adultery? Wow, son. That’s a bit rough. Oh wait, your remarks were “misleading” when printed? Do clarify.
“My discussion with the Associated Press was about the Supreme Court privacy case, the constitutional right to privacy in general, and in context of the impact on the family,” the statement read. “I am a firm believer that all are equal under the Constitution. My comments should not be misconstrued in any way as a statement on individual lifestyles.” – Metro Weekly
Ohhhhhh… Well, in that case… B.S., Santorum. Lest we not forget how you didn’t just compare, but equated the Catholic boy-fondling preists to a “basic homosexual relationship” [AP via USA Today]. It wasn’t child molestation because the preists weren’t having sex with boys, they “were having sexual relations with post-pubescent men”. Ah, we see the difference. No, really.
Santorum is also a comedian! Did you ever hear the one about… Oh, heck. Here it is:
“If we allow gay marriage, the next thing you know people will be marrying goldfish…”
ANYWAY. What do these two guys have in common? What does the Founder and President of a seemingly gay-friendly, youth-centric fashion retail store have to do with a homophobic, small minded, ex-Senator?
Richard Haynes, President/Founder of Urban Outfitters, owner of Anthropologie and Free People contributed over $13,000 to Santorum’s campaign and Political Action Committee over the years. (Pink News, Philadelphia Weekly)
Perhaps this explains the mysterious disappearance of pro-same-sex-marriage t-shirts off the Los Angeles Urban Outfitters shelves? Hmmm…
Imagine a scene, if you will…
You run into your local Urban Outfitters, Free People or Anthropologie and scope out the newest arrivals. Oh! That jacket you’ve been longing for sits on the wall, its perfect fabric drifting slightly as a result of the A/C unit above. You walk towards it, take it down from its rack, and hold it close look at the size. It’s the last one in the store, and sold out online… This is your one chance. You lift the tag – perfect, you whisper. You try it on, it fits like a glove. You rush to the cash register and throw your change down on the counter, much to the dismay of the 19 year old kid behind the counter, purple-haired and full of facial piercings. You don’t care – the jacket is yours. You run home to covet the jacket while the cashier delicately places the money in the register while muttering incoherantly about what a total bitch you are.
He ends up taking a fraction of your jacket’s sale price in his paycheck. Another fraction goes to the store’s rent. Another to the manager (that bitch is so overpaid…). Another to the garment makers in whatever random foreign countries the jacket is made in (don’t even get me started…). The rest trickles up to our dear friend Richard Hayne. Where does it go after that? Ricky decides, my friends, and we all know he has a penchant for gay-hating senators…
Let me tell you something: It takes balls to vote with your dollar. Trust me, I’m a budget fashion blogger. Don’t laugh! I take deals where I can get them, and guess what – Urban Outfitters has killer sales. Not to mention some really, really great clothes. Hello! Silence & Noise? Kimchi Blue? Miss Sixty? I’d live in this stuff, if I could. But I don’t. Why?
Because I don’t want my dollars and cents (what few I have) to end up in the hands of anti-evolving, ignorant, bigot bastards like Rick Santorum.
Sure, he might not be in office anymore, but give any web-savvy activist 15 seconds and they’ll hand you a printed list of the new Rick Santorums who are in office and can affect our ability to change.
You can get your Jeffrey Campbell shoes elsewhere, ladies. You can find a sweet leather jacket in an independent boutique. You will survive without the aid of Free People’s sundresses.
Be smart, save the fashion community and help give relevance to it by caring about social issues like this one.
Boycott Free People, Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters.
Know where your money is going.
—
**A note from Jennifer: Now that you know the truth, click here to find some alternatives to Urban Outfitters . If you’re still tempted to shop the (admittedly gorgeous) designs that companies like Free People create, this post (outing their thievery of another designer’s unique styles) should give you some more incentive not to.
Lastly, if you like what you see, don’t forget to subscribe to my feed, check out Elle’s site and/or follow me on Twitter!
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It really is a shame that UO & Anthropologie support people like that, because their clothes are awesome. But I’m in concurrence — as long as $$ from those stores is going to people & groups who are pro-life, anti-gay & anti-queer rights, and who support teaching creationism in public schools, there’s no way I am going to buy there.
Kristy’s last blog post..EatsandInterests.com
These people make me sad. Keep exposing this. Not everyone has the time to do the research so keeping you eye on it and talking about it helps!
I know it helps me.
Thanks!
Poochie
Princess Poochie’s last blog post..IFB Links a la Mode
Anthropologie also has a penchant for knocking off independent designers, which is why I no longer shop there. They’ve put several out of business: http://www.retaildish.com/store.php?id=29
And they rip off indie designers too! I absolutely refuse to shop at UO because of that, no matter how good their sales there. There’s a super cute pair of wedge booties on their website right now, but I’m watching eBay for them instead. I just couldn’t stomach shopping there (same with AA).
Michelle’s last blog post..Marvelous Monday: ModelMayhem Edition
This is fascinating to me. Let me tell you why: I consider myself to be more on the conservative side, so this article would make me want to shop there when I normally wouldn’t go near the store.
However, I’m all about boycotts! I totally respect your right to stick it to these guys who are exploiting your fashion sense to forward an agenda than would, I assume, be contradictory to the majority of their clientele.
What would really interest me is if a survey was conducted to see how many people who went in to UO or Anthropology supported gay rights. I imagine it would be a large percentage. Would they stop shopping there if they knew the truth? I doubt it.
If you only KNEW the things I learned when working there…
The mark-up of $30 t-shirts that, quite literally, were 30 cents to produce
The rip off of designs
How the managers aren’t really so overpaid
How the managers don’t care about the store
FWIW, Kimchi & Blue, and I’m PRETTY sure Silence & Noise are both in-house “labels.” So buying them basically means you’re paying more for UO’s falling apart pieces.
Ashe Mischief´s last blog ..OMG Shoes: More Pour La Victoire Shoes
I haven’t bought from them for years because of this. They use the money of left leaning young people to push the agenda of the far right. It’s like an irony factory.
Kyla Roma´s last blog ..Protected: Context
The same goes for food.
It’s important to know these things. Like another commenter pointed above,a lot of people don’t have time to do the research. On the other hand, many people still won’t care.
I cannot understand this even when it comes to food, I talk to people, they still stay indefferent and continue to buy junk or junk in disguise of being good food.
Nurit – 1 family. friendly. food.´s last blog ..banana nut bread, the best ever
Thanks for posting this. As if I needed another excuse NOT to shop at Urban Outfitters. Will retweet promiscuously…
Anna´s last blog ..Chicago Public Schools to provide STD testing as part of pilot program
Wow, wow, wow, wow, WOW. This blew me away. Thank you for drawing my attention to this. Any other articles or bits of info on things like this would be so helpful.
I’m so grateful you brought this to our attention!
Amy´s last blog ..Whose Wal-Mart Is It? It’s My Wal-Mart!
“It’s like an irony factory.”
Careful, Kyla! That will end up on a t-shirt before you know it!
Ashe Mischief´s last blog ..OMG Shoes: More Pour La Victoire Shoes
Meh.
And whoa at the level of pretense here.
First, this is mostly directed at Ashe Mischief (whom I seem to agree with):
You know how much it costs for paper and plastic cups? No more than 20 cents a piece. And the soda? About 2 cents for every 40 ounces they dispense withOUT ice.
So you’re paying AT LEAST $1.50 for a soda every time you drive through Wendy’s, when it really only cost them $.22. Profit margin? 618%.
Yes, really.
And that’s not calculating what it would be for a sit-down. Sit-down restaurants pay even less for their soda mixes and serve them in glass or plastic cups which are re-used. The cost to wash each one (based on the water company’s arbitrary use fee), is considerably less than $.20.
I guess my point is that everyone. Is ripping. Everyone. Off. That’s pretty much how it seems everyone wants to look at it, so let’s not sugar coat it and pretend anyone else is doing anyone else any favours. It’s not just right-wing scumbag politicians and hipster clothing stores- it’s everyone. It’s everywhere.
Also, if you looked into each and every company (from Wal*Mart and Target all the way up to Anna Sui) you’re GOING to find discrepancies and policies and misgivings and serious things that SOMEONE morally objects to in each and every one. If you really went digging and found the dirty truth about each one, pretty soon you’d have to buy some acreage, sheep, and get to fucking sewing on your handmade machine. That is, if you’re going to live by the motto that you won’t shop at stores who have any history of supporting shady practices, politicians, campaigns, etc…
Think about it. Sounds more like cutting off your nose despite your face, to me.
What if you found out those independent designers were ringleaders of the sweatshop world? Or an insanely large and still underground drug cartel shipping out methamphetamines to thirteen year olds to sell on the streets? It’s not any less likely.
Choose your battles, I say.
[...] Check out the post here! [...]
Ashley: “What if you found out those independent designers were ringleaders of the sweatshop world?” Then I wouldn’t buy from them.
I agree that there’s a dark underbelly to every business in every culture. That doesn’t make this post any less relevant.
@ Ashley: I completely respect your opinion, and agree: there are a lot of ripoffs. I also disagree with you on several accounts.
- Yes, many big box stores and corporate chains are ripping people off, shamelessly. However, that’s why doing the research is completely necessary. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort to make change, change is much more likely.
- RE: “What if you found out those independent designers were ringleaders of the sweatshop world?” – Once again: RESEARCH. Put time in before spending your hard-earned dollars. The independent designers featured on Awakened Aesthetic, I know for fact, have been diligently screened by Jennifer Nicole for authenticity, ethical production, and quality. Finding out that an independent designer is a ringleader for a ring of sweatshop productions is not only kind of offensive to the purpose of MANY independent designers, but also highly unlikely (as long as you put in the time).
This post was not accusing Urban Outfitters as being the ONLY PLACE that’s screwing people and contributing to anti-progressive campaigns…. This post was ABOUT UO’s contributions and, lucky for us all, it’s part of a series of post exposing corrupt shopping sources.
I agree that one must pick their battles in the world, but fortunately, many people are, and this is it. Going through life with the idea that everyone is screwing you over, so “what can you do?” is not going to make change. Many people will choose not to, because they’ll play victim to the world of corrupt corporations… I’m choosing not to do that, along with a plethora of others. We’re dedicated to making change.
Doing something about the things that are “wrong” in society by exposing it to our readers is our first step.
Thanks for your perspective.
Jen:
DEFINITELY relevant and really good to know. I’m all about people being educated and getting the word out there, so I definitely don’t disagree with the article, I just disagree that anyone is making such a huge deal out of not shopping there anymore.
If it catches fire enough over time and they go out of business… I guess I’m more worried about the people who work there and make their living than “sticking it to the man.”
Checks and balances, that’s all.
All incredibly valid arguments. I especially like, “Put time in before spending your hard-earned dollars.” THat’s bound to strike a chord.
But by the same point, I feel there are better ways to change inequality than going after the fashion industry.
True enough, this is where YOU are at. This is precisely your niche as a socially conscious fashionista. I guess it’s just more that I’m into the bigger picture and you’re actually working from six feet under up. Which is admirable and also… hard and taxing for you. At least it seems it to me. I could not do that.
But in the end, you’ll probably end up making more of a difference. I’m just more interested in seeing a change as a whole.
The response you’re getting, IMO, would be greatly dwindled and tamed down if we were in a nation that was generally accepting and allowing of homosexuality. Legally AND socially.
Mostly, I guess I’m just worried about the people who work for these companies.
Ashley: As conscious as I am about the economy, your comment leads me to thoughts of the independent designers that have been ripped off by UO and its subsidiaries, as well as the issues Elle mentions above. When looking at the big picture we have to consider the power and sway that big box companies hold and, in turn, their ability to abuse that power.
I see well-run independently-owned stores and designers close their doors every day due to design theft by corporations like UO. This gambit runs full circle, and unlike UO, my small blog is unlikely to bankrupt a company.
Jennifer Nicole:
I’m not as hip and savvy to the independent designer world as you and Miss Elle are.
I think I need to be more educated on that because my mind is not comprehending that indie’s are having to shut their doors to this.
And, again now, speaking with little information on this- couldn’t that be combatted by indie designers lowering prices?
Now that I’ve started making things and selling them, I guess from my own standpoint I’m not concerned if a mass producer takes my ideas and starts selling them at just above cost. I feel there will still be people who will want what I’m doing more.
I suppose the abuse is another thing entirely, I don’t think I was looking at this on the scale it may be on.
I guess another concern I want to raise is… how do we know that these independent designers aren’t in just as much support (maybe not monetarily, but otherwise) to the GOP, anti-gay activism, etc…?
Splitting hairs, I know. But we can’t all assume that just because the designer is independent that they are pro-homosexuality.
Hmmm… my mind is reeling on this one. This is one of the more interesting things I’ve wrapped my head around in a long time.
I like it.
This is an insane post. Thanks for sharing this. I had no idea about the people behind UO. I try not to shop there anyway, but they DO have wonderful collaborations with some of my favorite indie designers. So I’m definitely torn.
dreamsequins´s last blog ..Dossier Journal Style Blog: Douglas Reker
I have to admit that I did not know this about UO and Anthropologie. I appreciate the information and it will inform my purchasing decisions. I think every little bit we can do helps (optimism lives!). It was why I stopped ordering Domino’s Pizza and buying Nike (long, long ago), and why I have only gone into Walmart once. I am sure these are just the tip of the iceberg, but one must start somewhere!
Thanks for the information and the perspective.
I knew UO ripped off of designers hardcore (there was a scandal a few years ago with the designer Johnny Cupcakes, I think?), and I knew Anthropologie was along the same lines, but I had no idea about the rest of this article. Thanks for the info, and even though it’s right down the street from where I work, I’ll be skipping the mondo sales and shopping elsewhere.
And yet over on the right side of the page are advertisements for Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie. Nice rant, poor follow-through.
WV Barbie: Thanks for the sharp eye! I’m not sure, yet, how to disallow ads from specific retailers using Google Ads, but I will look into it. (This is the first time I’ve seen their ads on my site; Google Ads uses matches content through keywords, which is why I assume my usual “organic” ads aren’t being featured.)
Thanks again!
Dudee,
I can’t fucking stand homo bashers. I also can’t stand the homo movements. I can’t stand the Democrats, and I fucking cannot stand the Republicans either. I can’t stand the fucking Christians and the godamn Muslims. I cannot stand the fucking Jews as well.
Why?
Because they all have a fucking AAAAGGEEENNNDAAA!
I am a middle aged hetro white guy and if if I take a position on any goddamn fucking thing in life, I am undoubtedly going to do something to OFFEND one of these special interest groups.
I think that I am going to start a movement of my own..and I’m going to call it WMPAC..White Men Political Action Committee.
Look for this ACRONYM to appear soon in your town!
Hey amdman, the 90s just called … they want their played-out angry white man’s burden schtick back.
I think this is a great post, and is incredibly informative. However, there is a Urban Outfitters advertisement on the top right of this very website. A conflict of interests I would say.
Max Gibson
wineandbowties.com
WMPAC? Sorry, it already exists. It’s more popularly known as THE WHOLE WORLD. You may have heard of it. It’s where white men get to run things. That’s why it makes you uncomfortable when anyone else’s point of view is considered.
Anyway, back to the real topic here. This is something that is rampant in big retail chains, and why I never shop them. It’s so important to support you local, independent small businesses, consignment shops, local (non-chain) thrifts, local mom&pop grocery & hardware, bookstores, etc. Get to know your neighbors and patronize them. More of your money staying in your own community is always the best way to spend.
Hey Max! WV Barbie noticed the same thing. Google takes keywords from posts and chooses ads based on them, and though I’ve been hunting for a way to remove the ad, I haven’t found a solution yet. Good eye, though, and thanks!
[...] On the subject of knowing where your shopping dollars go, Miss Elle reveals the politics behind some of the more popular hipster retailers. [...]
The post is great.
This was a great article. I never shopped there because of how they rip off independent designers.
people need to shop on Etsy more. You can find the cutest things(Vintage and Handmade) and the money goes straight to the artist, not these politics who are trying to limit our choices on how we can live our life!
Hmm…well I believe that if people want to fight for gay rights, then those who are opposed to it should be able to fight for their beliefs as well.
However, I think the consumer deserves to know where his/her money is going because I’m sure that Rick Santorum or Richard Hayne would be pretty upset if they were spending money at a certain store and then found out it was being used to fund the Church of Satan or somethng.
“If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual [gay] sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything,” – Metro Weekly, Washington DC’s LGBT Newsagazine
Regarding his comments above, they may sound outrageous but I think I understand what he is trying to say.
Gay sex, polygamy, incest and adultery are not the same thing but they can all be consensual acts and no one but the people involved are bring affected by what they are doing.
If gay people are granted the same rights as straight people, when those who engage in polygamy and incest say “We want the same rights that the heterosexual and homosexual people have”, how can anyone tell them no? How can any straight people or gay people tell them that what they are doing is wrong? If it makes them happy, why shouldn’t they be allowed to do what they want?
I’m not being hateful or prejudiced here, I’m just bringing a point to the table that some pro-gay rights activists may not have considered.
Danz: Thank you for such a well-thought-out comment! It’s always refreshing to see someone really consider the implications of posts like this.
I agree with you: gay marriage does open the door for multiple marriage (polyamory) and adult incest…and honestly, I don’t take issue with that. I’ve felt, from a young age, that marriage as it is understood by the state and our federal legal systems is entirely separate from marriage as it is intended in the Bible. If church and state are separate, then state marriage is separate from marriage ordained by the church, yes? If two or three or four consenting adults want to have legal bonds to each other, mingle their taxes and cuddle up in bed at night, I don’t have a problem with it. If they chose to persecute me for my relationship with a single, opposite-sex partner? That’s another story!
What often bothers me about comments like Santorum’s is that they tend to mutate into more grotesque implications. At one point, I heard a quote about gay marriage opening the door to NAMBLA-like groups who think adults should be legally allowed to persue sexual relationships with minors, as well as bestiality supporters.
The difference, here, is that polyamory and incestual relationships are consensual by all parties, where sex with minors, sex with animals and sex with someone other than your legal spouse (adultery and cuckolding) are not. (Unless the partner consents to the other’s choice to stray, of course.) The former doesn’t bother me, because I think that people have a right to do whatever crazy stuff they want, as long as all parties affected consent. The latter? No consent, no legality…and minors *can’t* consent.
does anyone else find it a tab bit ironic that most viewers of this page were greeted by a rather large ad for UrbanOutfitters.com right along side the article, i guess we’re all just whores for profit
Jen: As a Catholic and an advocate for gay rights I totally agree with you when you say that state marriage and marriage ordained by the church are two completely different things and should be handled as so. This is one, among several reasons, why it upsets me that “religious” people use religion/God/the Bible as an excuse to oppose gay marriage. If it’s not YOUR choice and it does not affect YOUR church or YOUR life, why should you have any right to have a say in someone else’s life choice? Opposing gay marriage is opposing a human right and if you are not gay and you go through lengths to oppose gay marriage then I find it completely idiotic. It does not affect you. YOU can still get married so what do you care? Gay people getting married does not, in any way negatively affect other people’s lives and using religion to oppose it is a cop out.
Jennifer Nicole: Thanks for your reply. You have made a good point about church and state being separate. The future implications were obviously not considered before making the two separate and therefore the state should, in all fairness, accept the consequences of making that change. If gay people want to be married under state law, then the only way the state should be able to prohibit gay marriage is by making the church and state one again.
Also, you said that lifestyle choices such as polyamory and incest do not bother you in particular but I’m sure not all pro-gay rights activists will feel this way. Some will definitely be opposed to it. The truth is, many people who fight for certain rights only do it because it’s a personal issue with them. Either they are personally affected by something, or a loved one is. They develop their own ideas of what is right and what is wrong based solely on their desires. Everyone wants peace and unity but it’s impossible to have that when everyone is off doing their own thing.
Diana: “If it’s not YOUR choice and it does not affect YOUR church or YOUR life, why should you have any right to have a say in someone else’s life choice?” While gay marriage may not directly affect every individual, it will affect the world and how it moves forward. Many historical movements started with the actions of one person or one group and developed into changes being made worldwide. Sometimes our actions and choices do have an effect on a much larger scale that can play a role in how society advances. Yes, some people are opposed to gay marriage for selfish reasons, but others are simply concerned with the way the world is moving forward.
Hi Damian:
As I’ve replied to two other commenters, I’ve been working to ban ads from UO and its affiliates from my site. It has taken some effort, but the ad should be removed within the hour!
Your assumptions are a little irritating (I don’t approve every ad that lands on the site – they’re selected by Google via keywords used on the site) but rest assured that no one looking at this page is a whore for profit.
Danz: If any negative aspects come from gay marriage then we can deal with those accordingly when they surface. Right now what I’m concerned with is the fact that some of my gay friends are having a basic human right denied to them because of their sexual orientation that they cannot choose themselves. I cannot wait until the day I get married. I look forward to my wedding and married life and it makes me sad that there are those that cannot look forward to it too.
I understand where you’re coming from. Nothing in this life comes free and easy, but it doesn’t mean we should just sit back and take it because we fear the future. Many wondrous, beautiful and amazing things that have taken place happened because someone braved the future with conviction and hope.
Diana: As I mentioned in my comment above, the reason why you and many others are so adamant about gay marriage is because you have a personal connection with it. If the issue is equality for everyone, will you also stand up and fight for those who will want equality as it relates to things like consensual incest and polyamory and everything else that results from this? Simply being indifferent about an issue is not the same as fighting for it.
If everyone agreed with gay marriage but the only thing holding them back was fear, then I might agree with you. However, while you may see gay marriage as progress, others have legitimate reasons for not seeing it this way. I can understand the reasons people have for wanting to approve gay marriage but as a Christian, I have legitimate religious reasons for not agreeing with it. However, as state and church are separate, it would not be fair for me to use religious grounds as a reason why gay people cannot be married under state law.
I know some people might get upset by my opinion but I cannot compromise my beliefs just to appease those who may disagree with it.
Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. Our money has power, and we should use that power wisely. I will not be shopping at any of these places again, and I plan to share this information with my friends. Thanks again!
I am seriously shopping there now. I may only be 20, but I am old fashioned.
I definitely won’t be shopping at those stores anymore! Great article, thanks for letting this be known
Glad that there are people like you out there who are prepared to take a stand on issues like this and vote with your dollars. And spreading the word to boot. Right On!
This is some seriously week logic. Try not to be an upstart just because you need ideas for your blog. I live in PA and Rick Santorum is fucking idiot, but he’s not as bad as it gets. It’s also a corporation, just like the people who sold this domain to whoever sold it to you. The CEOs of corporations can and will do whatever the fuck they want with their money, including coke, hookers, terrorism, and presents to fuckheads like Santorum. That doesn’t mean that you should ruin a small part of an economy and get a bunch of hipster 20 somethings laid off because you don’t like what a rich person does with their money. That’s fucking ridiculous. Plus, I like their t-shirts.
So, lets break this down.
In a sense, we are all our own businesses. We work, make money, and what “profit” you could call we make, we spend on things such as trendy clothes, alcohol, pretty much anything we want our money to go to.
Your money has power, you can decide where to spend your money and god help whoever tells you otherwise. If they tell you where to put your money, they’re fascists!
However, lets complain about how Richard Hayne spends HIS money! Lets hate on that evil man terribly…one doing what he wants to do with the money he has worked for.
Damned Urban Outfitters! Lets shut em down! and watch as many many youth lose their jobs. Oh I’m sorry, you must think your job is more important than theirs and your money is worth more. Well in that case, then Richard has every right to think his money is worth more than yours.
And when I say youth, don’t just think of that hipster kid behind the counter. There are tons of 20 somethings+ that take pictures of their products for their website, and get paid for it. If urban falls, there goes their jobs. Those 20 somethings are just like all of you, trying to make money to get by in the day or pay for college so they can one day have a better life.
Screw Anthropologie you all say! I know someone who shoots the photos for their catalogs, and makes money off of that to do such things as pay for his child’s tuition. He’s not 20-something, and I’m sure a lot of you can relate to trying to give your son or daughter only the best.
These are just a couple of examples of other ways Richard actually helps out. I’m sure there are more, but I can only speak of photography related areas.
As much as we hate “Right wingers” and business men, a lot of them give us the money we need to make our living. Just like Richard makes a living. And as much as we like to spend our money on trendy boots and shirts. He likes to spend his money supporting someone he wants to spend his money on.
Honestly this whole article is as close-minded as the 19 year old you depict buying at Urban
Charlie has the right idea.
He probably supported the senator because he was hmmmm a republican? Most old rich white guys tend to do that considering they don’t like being taxed a whole lot, and 13k is chump change when you consider how much politicians spend on tv spots when re-elections hit.
So before you go rambling on get more explicit evidence that Mr. Hayne has the same values do a little thinking and have some respect before hand, a lot of people vote on party lines for several reasons. Just because someone is a republican doesn’t mean they hate gays.
[...] Elle of Broke and Beautiful did a guest post at Awakened Aesthetic about Urban Outfitters that is DEFINITELY worth reading! I love something she [...]
I was committed to boycotting UO for a completely unrelated thing, but this definitely sealed the deal.
WOW.
Alicia´s last blog ..Talonalia (Pt.2)
Alicia:
Can I ask what you were originally boycotting them for?
Wow! Great post, Miss Elle! I consider myself fairly informed about this kind of stuff but had no idea about Urbn’s connections to the Santorum campaign. I will buy my buffalo plaid tunics elsewhere in the future.
Winona´s last blog ..Blogback Mountain
[...] over 13K to groups who support anti-gay, pro-life, pro-ID teaching in schools — more at Awakened Aesthetic — and Victoria’s Secret using slave labor), or because we’ve realized that [...]
[...] and President Richard Hayne, though purportedly not homophobic according to his openly gay CEO, donated $13,500 to virulently anti-gay former Senator Rick Santorum. Regardless of his personal views on homosexuality, he gave his largest political donation to one [...]
Thank you for enlightening me about the owner of Anthropologie, Free the People and Urban Outfitters. I spend a lot of money in those stores and I love Free the People. It seems like an oxymoron. Do the gay people working for him know his views? I will email Richard Hayne and let him know he lost a customer. You can also find Richard Hayne on Wikipedia if you want another information source on this person
Good job on being just as devolving as the man whom you have so much hatred for. Honestly, like it or not, he can have whatever opinion he wants, and spend his money in any way he wants.
& This may come as a shock to you and the rest of the world but Gay Rights are the absolute least of our problems. Seriously. They should be a lower than low priority in this country.
Global warming, disease, famine, homelessness, poverty, drugs, gang violence, murder… it goes on and on and on. But here you are, with so many others, getting yourself all worked up over whether two men or two women can marry each other.
This is why there are so many problems in the world. People can’t prioritize issues correctly because they are too selfish. If it doesn’t affect you, clearly you don’t care.
All of those other issues you’ve mentioned…have you read this blog?
I believe that people can be passionate about issues that affect them and others. Choosing not to support a corporation whose interests greatly differ from yours, and which uses deceptive tactics to fund money to others whose interests differ from yours, is a perfectly acceptable choice. It can also have economic benefits: supporting one’s local economy strengthens their community in many ways, and choosing to buy from an locally-owned small business as opposed to a national chain adds to that support.
There are many, many reasons to buy from local, independent designers and avoid stores like Urban Outfitters. Gay rights support is only one of them.
To the Anonymous Commenter who had enough balls to talk about why this is a non-problem (and call me “devolved”), but not quite enough balls to leave his/her name:
You’re right. There are so many problems that are bigger than indie designers losing their livings to big box corporations, and there are bigger problems than homophobes preventing people from living their lives as they please…
So on the back of your comment (and countless others on this post), I’d like to completely agree with you. Famine, murder, gang violence… We have complete control over these things, right? We should be stopping them before we start attacking the little, measley problems like stupid gay rights. Who needs those? It’s just fags getting hitched, right _____?
So here’s my push towards a movement: STOP MURDER. Stop gang violence! Jennifer Nicole – remove this post and replace it with “STOP KILLING EACH OTHER! We have lots of problems to fix afterwards, like gay rights and stuff – but LET’S BE SURE TO STOP MURDERERS FIRST! 100%!”
Sir/Ma’am, I’m unsure if you’ve read this website, as Jennifer Nicole mentioned above, but if you took the time (before making a comment in the most cowardly way…), you’d see it was a fashion site. You’d also see it’s an ethical shopping resource. Now, would you go onto a Pro-Vegan site and tell them that “Killing animals for fur is a stupid thing to be doing. You’re devolved. Don’t you know that people are MURDERING EACH OTHER?!!” No, probably not.
If you’d like to shut me up, or are feeling a little bit pissed off that I’ve responded to you in this way, here is a surefire way to shut me up, posted here for your convenience:
- Respond with your name. It shows you’re not a total pussy.
- List 5 things you’ve done (aside from your current and prominent position of criticizing folks in blog comments for trying to make a difference) that will improve the current state of murder, gang violence, famine, etc… You know, all those things that are more important than what I’m doing.
- Sign your name.
Talk about devolving… You can’t even own your own words.
Signed (sincerely),
Post Author Elle
Miss Elle´s last blog ..Guest Post: Knowing Your Anatomy
I just read this story and let me first appologies for Santorum. (hangs head in shame)…I am from Pennsylvania and some people in my state especially the center of the state, do not realize what they do to humans. I think they do not think about wquality unless it specifically dealw with them and THEN they get fighting man if you try effect their life.
Secondly, the UO guy has to be totally a crack!! But it takes all kind to make the world and come on…… we are the level headed, fair, just, equal people. We know that kooks and people who want to stifle others because others views does not support their agenda can not toally be told to shut up because they have the right to their opinion. It is just a shame that people listening to those opinions get to vote.
*smile*…..hoepfully the world will become one.
@Jennifer Nicole
Originally, I stopped because of blatant ripping of indie artists. I never really paid much attention until recently and was most disgusted by the practice. People commented that there were fake events set up where their designs were submitted and stolen. SMH.
Alicia´s last blog ..WHAM!
You did know that the CEO of Urban Outfitters Glen Senk is gay and very open about it right? I seriously doubt Richard Hayne has a problem with homosexuals. He is also a multi billionaire….. $13,000 is like pocket change to him.
thanks for this article, if anything it has made me like urban outfitters more than ever. thank god my hard earned money is going to someone with morals instead of another obama-voting liberal. i look forward to spending my paycheck (after your leftist government removes a large chunk of course) at urban outfitters this weekend!
Weezy:
Awww, did your poor paycheck get a bite taken out of it? Wow, that’s unfortunate. Maybe if you weren’t such a slave to your own government (Yes, I’m talking about the right-wing ball sack on your chin), you’d realize that there is no law that dictates you pay income tax. & even if they show you one, it will never be in compliance with your beloved, right-wing supreme court.
But our immoral, obama-voting liberalism wouldn’t know about that, would we? We’re such anti-Americans.
Maybe do a little research before “sharing your opinion” next time. Also, try to get your own opinion instead of pilfering one from your political party.
Enjoy stunting the evolution of humanity, society, and the human mind. The paycheck you’ll receive from your local K-Mart probably won’t buy much anyway.
Signed, yours truly,
Elle
Wow… Elle… That was quite an ugly display of temper from someone who generally tries to come off as being so calm and collected.
I understand your passion on the matter and I’m wholeheartedly in support of your disdain for Santorum, but sadly, in this economy, we need people like that asshat to sign our paychecks, because that’s what’s keeping a roof over our heads.
Actually, though, I want to point out where your attack failed.
“Maybe if you weren’t such a slave to your own government (Yes, I’m talking about the right-wing ball sack on your chin), you’d realize that there is no law that dictates you pay income tax. & even if they show you one, it will never be in compliance with your beloved, right-wing supreme court.”
There are 3 gov’t branches that make law – one of them is our good ol’ court system. The US Courts enact judiciary law, by setting precedents. As a US Citizen, you are bound by judiciary law as much as the next guy.
The notion that you don’t have to pay tax is a conspiracy theory, at best. I couldn’t put it better than THIS gentleman, courtesy of Answers.yahoo.com:
“Yes, there are specific laws stating you must pay income taxes. It is codified in the U.S. Code as Title 26. Regardless of what you believe or what you have been told, the U.S. Code IS LAW. Some of the U.S. Code is “positive” law which means the exact text in code was the exact text of the bill passed by Congress and signed into law by a President. Other parts, like Title 26, are “prima facie” law or evidence of the laws passed by Congress. All of the various tax bills passed by Congress and signed into law are codified in the U.S. Code which then becomes evidence of the original law. The courts use the U.S. Code as evidence of the law. If there is any argument that a section of U.S. Code does not accurately reflect the intent of the law passed by Congress, the court will refer to the U.S. Statutes at Large where the exact wording of the laws passed by Congress are contained. Here are a couple of court cases concerning the validity of the Internal Revenue Code.
“Indeed, as we have repeatedly held, the entire Internal Revenue Code was validly enacted by Congress and is fully enforceable.” United States v. McDonald, 919 F.2d 146 (10th Cir. 1990); United States v. Studley, 783 F.2d 934, 940 (9th Cir. 1986).
“Congress’s failure to enact a title into positive law has only evidentiary significance and does not render the underlying enactment invalid or unenforceable. See 1 U.S.C. § 204(a) (1982), (the text of titles not enacted into positive law is only prima facie evidence of the law itself). Like it or not, the Internal Revenue Code is the law, and the defendants did not violate Ryan’s rights by enforcing it.” Ryan v. Bilby, 764 F2d 1325, 1328 (9th Cir. 1985).
You can read Title 26 for yourself at http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/26/ or at http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title26…
Specific sections relating to most people are § 1, § 61, § 62, § 63, § 3402, and § 6011.
Your statement about the IRS is conspiracy theory nonsense. The IRS is part of the U.S. Treasury department. § 7801(a) of the Internal Revenue Code states that the administration and enforcement of the Code shall be performed by or under the supervision of the Secretary of the Treasury. § 7802(a) then says that there shall be a Commissioner of Internal Revenue in the Department of the Treasury who shall have such duties and powers as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. Finally, § 7803(a) of the Code states that the Secretary is authorized to employ persons for the administration and enforcement of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Supreme Court has verified and confirmed the validity of the Internal Revenue Service. In Donaldson v. United States, 400 U.S. 517, 534 (1971), the stated, “…the Internal Revenue Service is organized to carry out the broad responsibilities of the Secretary of the Treasury under 7801 (a) of the 1954 Code for the administration and enforcement of the internal revenue laws.”
Several lower courts have also made statements about the IRS. In Young v. Internal Revenue Service, 596 F.Supp. 141 (N.D.Ind. 1984), the court stated, “Plaintiff attempts to circumvent this conclusion by arguing that the IRS is ‘a private corporation’ because it was not created by ‘any positive law’ (i.e., statute of Congress) but rather by fiat of the Secretary of the Treasury. Apparently, this argument is based on the fact that in 1953 the Secretary of the Treasury renamed the Bureau of Internal Revenue as the Internal Revenue Service. However, it is clear that the Secretary of the Treasury has full authority to administer and enforce the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 7801, and has the power to create an agency to administer and enforce the laws. See 26 U.S.C. § 7803(a). Pursuant to this legislative grant of authority, the Secretary created the IRS. 26 C.F.R. § 601.101. The end result is that the IRS is a creature of ‘positive law’ because it was created through congressionally mandated power. By plaintiff’s own ‘positive law’ premise, the, the IRS is a validly created governmental agency and not a ‘private corporation.’”"
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080105210247AAUo8cE
WOW i had no idea. i’ve already stopped shopping at hobby lobby and going to cinemarks theaters for the same reason. thanks for the post!
Thank you for this bit of news. I will never, ever shop at any of those places again and am horrified that they ever got a dollar from me. I used to check out most places I bought from, but as life got more hectic then I got a little lazier. It’s a good wake up call! I will tell all my friends in the theatre world, too, who I am sure will be equally horrified at this connection.
[...] This post was Twitted by herewegoyo [...]
Excellent. Now I have three new stores at which to vote with my dollar. Any other stores we should boycott because they give money to those trying to stop the statists and commies from getting in office?
Awesome! Iwill go right now to do my Christmas shopping at Urban Outfitters! Never knew they were supporting conservatives! Thanks for letting us know!
That is rediculous. I try not to shop at urban outfitters because they are overpriced.
But another thing everyone should know – a few years ago, urban outfitters stole a design from boston-based t-shirt company johnny cupcakes and passed it off as their own. This was before JC was a big name, and I don’t think justice was ever brought to the situation. I’ve heard they have ripped off and continue to rip off many independent clothing designers.
Stealing from smaller designers? Supporting anit-gay politicians? Not a place I would bring my business.
Ok, I know I’m very late on this, but there is a much better solution than boycotting clothes that no one wants you to know.
DEMAND CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM!
With today’s financing policies it’s clear that money runs most politicians. Rich people and corporations obviously have a louder say than the rest of us.
This money allows politicians to spew their propaganda out to the masses and brainwash people into voting for them. While the more honest candidates have less money and cannot afford to be heard.
Donations need to be limited to reasonable amounts that average voter can afford. Also, only voters should be allowed to donate for the candidates that will actually be on their ballot. Currently, corporations can donate money to every politician in the country. It just doesn’t make any sense.
Do something that would actually force a change:
– CALIFORNIA already has the ball rolling. VOTE YES on the Fair Elections bill on the June 2010 ballot.
– Find out which candidates support campaign finance reform and help get them into office! Search online and email them and ask if you don’t know their opinion. Then, vote for them and make your friends vote for them. If you can, donate to their campaign or volunteer to help them get elected.
– If you have money/time, remember that the current laws allows you to help out candidates in cities and states where you do not live! Help them out too if you can.
– Contact all your current congressmen and demand campaign finance reform now. http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml Apparently post cards work best.
If everyone does something, we will make a difference. Don’t think there are enough people out there doing something. How many of us would it take to put together a single $13,000 donation? A LOT, but with our mass numbers, any effort would help!
Also, don’t let people fool you into thinking that your votes don’t count. We are all aware there has been corruption in the voting process. There is a REASON this was made known to us who cared to pay attention. To make smart people not want to vote!
Please spread the word.
Hot damn! All the sleuthing and necessary exposure got me all hot ‘n bothered. Great work!
Danz,
Your “legitimate” reasons for denying me and my partner getting married are based on the oft reinterpreted superstitions of bronze-age sheep herders. How are they still relevant? Clearly, your relationship to critical thinking is tenuous at best. You can’t see your religious prejudice inflicted on a whole class of people as descrimination?
But what would you know of discrimination? You’re of African descent, an immigrant and a woman, why, life must be a piece of cake for you.
Good luck with that attitude working in fashion, honey . . . .