urban outfitters = SATAN
several reasons why urban outfitters is a purely satanic manifestation:
1. crappy badly-made, high-priced clothing spun mostly out of *acrylic* (lord!), or some other type of fabric that will eventually pill and look horrible
2. the new "DIY"/indie aesthetic that they've been channelling, the "hand-beaded" or "handmade" look in the clothing they carry (which is probably all made by twelve-year-olds in china or india, in reality). last time i wandered into the store, it was chock-full of their "Urban Renewal" remade/reconstructed brand and it irritated me to no end to see how they've cornered the market on the aesthetic. I'm very curious to be proven wrong about their manufacturing practices on this one...like, is all this stuff assembled locally or sent overseas?
3. ill-fitting clothing that makes my crotch look strange, or sits too low on my hips, or is too tight. the sizing on the clothing is just whacked-out crazy! who's the pattern maker on crack?
4. when things get marked down, they are so drastically marked down it makes you realize how much of a MARK-UP they do when selling retail. it should be criminal!
5. this clinches it: the posting at the supernaturale website that shows how UO ripped off a t-shirt design by small-time designer Johnny Cupcakes. You be the judge and check it out, but the story stinks. Says the designer, "...this company is my life, and this awful, scummy situation upsets me..."
OK, here's the deal: copying/influence, etc, happens on all levels--in both the fashion world and the artworld. like, everyone's doing puff sleeves, but does that mean someone's ripping off the first person who did puff sleeves? no, of course not. But what chaps my hide is the BIG guy absorbing the LITTLE guy's turf. urban outfitters is a giant octopus bloodsucking freak that churns out fashion at an alarmingly disposable rate. and since they have the production means and the outlets to move the merch at a fast pace, they can undercut everyone and look like they're offering edgy, individualized fashion.
bah! i'm on a rant...
posted by anti-factory @ 10:30 AM
37 comments
37 Comments:
1. crappy badly-made, high-priced clothing spun mostly out of *acrylic* (lord!), or some other type of fabric that will eventually pill and look horrible
i couldn't agree with you more! i confess that i do have some items from uo, but i've learned that i can buy the very similar things at independent boutiques, where the prices are somewhat less, and the quality is often much better!
I love reading your blog because you're always able to put into words things that I'm thinking about all the time.
Anyways, wondering the same things I contacted UO a few weeks ago wondering about their urban renewal line.
Maybe it was just me being naive but I imagined this place with all these little indie designers concocting up these ideas and then making them out of recycled materials. ahhaahh
But anyways, I emailed them asking "where is your urban renewal line made" and they said it was inhouse designers so whatever that means. The way they answered it makes me seem they thought I was wondering where it was designed, not made. I think they have people scowering the market for cool things, copying them, and probably being made in sweatshops.
As a designer myself I like the stuff because it's cool but on the other hand it's totally lame what they're doing...
But, if you haven't heard of this Canadian company yet you should check out
www.preloved.ca
this is a company with very original designs and most made from recycled and vintage materials. I want them to put a store in the US!!!
Oh yeah,
I'm Marie from www.robotparade.org
re: marie's quote given to her by uo, "it's designed in (such and such place by so and so)" is exactly what i tell customers at the retail place i work because in all honesty i do know what countries the garments are produced in but i don't know what the conditions are and rather than get into some sort of upsetting conversation about the company i work for while i'm in school, i try the "it's designed in holland" route. so, given that, i'd say that the people at uo probably have bad feelings about the response they'll get if they tell the truth.
and stephanie...i'm with you on the rant front.
happily, i've seen this posted in just about every blog arena that i frequent, so at least they're being outed. bastards.
ooooo! first, i have to add to this initial rant that, yes, i own a whole slew of urban outfitters items, too--! i used to buy tons of stuff from them when they first opened up years ago, but am now always presented with feelings of both aesthetic joy, horror, and fear--all wrapped into one--whenever i visit their store. joy because well, a lot of the stuff looks GREAT...horror because, well, the quality usually sucks...and then lastly, fear, since i think "oh my god, there will be no room for the rest of us soon!".
marie from robotparade--hey! it's great you have the gumption to actually ask them where the urban renewal stuff comes from... um, i was in the philippines about three years ago now and in the malls they were selling TONS of "reconstructed" clothing and accessories that were all made in Thailand from used goods that were shipped from the US. Really cool stuff like messenger bags made of old Puma sweatshirts and stuff. so if i'm guessing right, UO can just ship used items to places like Thailand to have 'em assembled....hmmmmmm....wouldn't doubt it!
valerie, i think i'm slow on the uptake on this one--i wanna check out what the other blogistas are yammering about this :D
yo, anonymous--people like you ROCK! handmakers couldn't live without buyers, so thank you!!!!
this is best written post about the subject I have encountered.
omigosh, i'm guilty of browsing UO racks! :-\ but i never buy anything. i went to their clearance sale and it was ridiculous. i was like, these prices are NOT clearance prices. and my boyfriend hates UO. he said they're trying to be vintage or whatever when they're really all mass-made stuff. he has a point. cuz it's true. i like going there for inspiration though. i love being surrounded by clothes. it's part of my addiction. :-P
I myself have become so fed up with like ub and aeo ( american eagle ) because everything i buy is either filled with holes within two weeks or i look like every other person walking down the street! So that being said i've made a handmade/reconstructed resolution, my entire closet ( minus the shoes ) is going to be either handmade by me or someone else, or thrifted and recronstructed! I've had it overpriced pieces of blah clothing! Sorry im ranting too!
ur very arrogant and perhaps the clothes do not fit you well because your body is not proportioned well. i am a buyer for urban and antrhopolgie and i think it is very ballsy for some nobody to make such a bold statement. hope walmart's new line fits your body better.
sigh! somehow i doubt you are really a buyer for those guys because you can't even spell it correctly. and at least if you're going to hurl insults, have some integrity and do it without hiding behind an "anonymous" tag, why don't you?
and yeah, my grossly weird body is about as weird as everyone else's, which mean's i'm *normal* in that i'm a deviation from skinny tall model size. ergo, i guess you're telling me that your clothes are perfect and it's *my* body that needs adjusting. tsk tsk!
It sounds like you are going to put yourself thru a lot of trouble just so you don’t look like everyone else. Making all your clothes (sans shoes) is a full time job but good luck ... I mean it was bound to happen, once the indie alternative look becomes popular “hipsters/artists” will move on to the next fashion “look”, one that is different from the masses and that offers a new air of distinction. One point that no one has raised is the fact that UO sells a wide scope of brands: Levis/Triple 5 Soul/Lee/Diesel etc hey! They even sell vinyl toys (kidrobot) My question is this: UO seems to be co opting at an alarming speed the tastes of artists/musicians creative people. Where do you see the UO trend going and is there anything that we can do as consumers/creative people to set ourselves apart from it?
my email is josedavilamail@gmain.com
and Im a writer from Miami- regards
Jose
first: I love urban outfitters and anthropologie. I have since 1998 and I will for a long time (until I transition to my inner saks-loving self, complete with the ability to afford it) but I DO agree with you on the ridiculous markup. I'm very confused about who UO's ideal market is... this whole $200 jean thing is ridiculous. Also: the urban renewal thing is a direct copy from Topshop (UK-based chain). I definitely suffered from pill-y shirts, a pill-y skirt, and one shirt that had holes in it the first day I wore it. HOWEVER, most of the clothes have been fine. in the grand scheme of my UO buying history, I've been happy with the quality more often than not. I think you can't expect everything at UO to be well made..it's quite hit-or-miss really..but as long as you're a conscious consumer you will be able to find well-made clothes there and anywhere.
i first started goin to uo a few years ago and i fell in love...that was then...this is now...i hate the store...one of the things that really started to bother me other than the ridiculous mark up was the attitude of the people...most, not all....that worked there...their "cooler than you" attitude is disgusting...they walk around with all these tattered mismatched clothes on and look at you like your not worthy of the ill made goods in the store...i also encountered a few racial profiling type moments too..being blatantly followed around after ensuring associates that i didnt need help and was only browsing was an ongoing occurence....uo sucks!
so funny! i know this post is old but i just found your blog and i wrote an entry about UO yesterday and how they blatantly rip off other designers.
Urban outfitters send most of their work to china, indonesia, and other countries. It is unconfirmed if it is actual sweatshop labor but most believe it is. Urban Renewal is indeed made in the USA. There is a warehouse space in philly where all the design and production is done. The fitment on Urban clothes is terrible because many of the employees have little, no or bad education in the fashion industry. Or they hate the company so much that they try to screw them from the inside. ;)
All,
I understand the feelings and the sources of these feelings that the people before me have expressed. I agree that sweatshop labor should not be a preferred method of production.
I also am on your side about being good to other people. Being an artist myself, I understand how hard it is to make money and how other business entities can and do rip off ideas and concepts from others. It's not right. IF artists want to help artists, they should band together to fund a legal entity that will prosecute anyone or anything that steals your ideas. It would also be a good use of one's time to get educated on how to protect your intellectual and artistic property.
There are already artistic alliances etc.. that you all should join and help grow. Because as we all know, big money rules...
With that said, I'd like to illustrate how your protestations to 'sweatshops' is part of a much larger topic (planet-wide ignorance) by addressing some philisophical and economic realities that I feel many people miss completely.
From our perspective in the US, and from other industialized nations of democratic political organization, we define abuse of other humans (and animals for that matter) much differently than some of the people we are trying to protect in the third world, when we talk about 'sweatshops' and the like.
ON PERSPECTIVE AND THE HUMAN REACTION:
To the person in Guatemala, for example, who lives in the countryside, they are living in the "jungle". Their income level and standard of living has been rather constant for centuries. But they don't see themselves as oppressed or disadvantaged, or disenfranchised...at least not until someone from our type of society points out that they are. But are they??? From their perspective, life is what it is. And it's ok.
Their ancestors have lived like this for as long as any of them can remember. In the 13th century, do you think that the Native Americans complained that they didn't have access to welfare, healthcare, and retirement plans? They simply got up every morning and went out into the land to find whatever the family/village/tribe needed that day. That's pretty much how they went about their business everyday . For centuries people were born, lived, and then died. No big deal. It was LIFE!--and it was good to them, from their perspective.
Don't you think that some of us in the Industrialized World look down upon the 'poor' as if they are as helpless as infants. Well, to us they might seem to be. Our way of life is so much better we think. Maybe, maybe not.
Ask a modern-day Native American. The ones I've talked to like the new ways. Most long to get off the poverty stricken reservation and have a 'better life'. However some wish to be able to return to the old ways (which are no longer possible). It's not unanimous and both points of view have merit.
Look back on human history and the following is apparent: Change is unavoidable. Land is conquered and lost, nations rise and fall, ideas become popular then are discarded.
Social evolution is as vibrant and active as physical evolution.
The weather changes, land masses are in constant motion. It's unstoppable. What is best for humanity is for people to understand the TRUTH about the topic they are discussing and not to mistake conjecture for fact. This is called WISDOM....it's sometimes called COMMON SENSE. A very scarce commodity these days it seems.
So, if one looks at life from the rural third world person's perspective, working in a sweatshop could easily be a move up. Afterall, they now won't have to go out into the wilderness braving poisonous insects, snakes and deadly animals (and perhaps rival tribes)just to get food for the table. With a 'job', they can:
Go to the market and safely buy what they need.
Live in a home that is fully enclosed and protected from the elements.
Their children have the opportunity to be educated and have a better life than their parents.
---which brings me to an American parallel to this topic:
If I'm wrong here, I apologize, but I believe that most of the posters here are too young to remember the 1950's. Back then the majority of Americans lived on a farm or in a rural setting. The minority of Americans lived in the ' Big City'. It was not that uncommon for people in the countryside to not have indoor plumbing. Many didn't have electricity in the most rural and mountainous areas of the country. I can remember in the 1960's when my grand parents first had indoor plumbing installed. Living in these areas was like living in the 'jungle'. Working at a very tough, physical job that paid far more than you used to make was a step up for you and your family's standard of living.
As you can see, a person's perspective and life experience can be vastly different from yours, but does one person's view of a better job mean the other person's view is right or wrong? It all depends on their perspective.
All of America is not rich, not poor, not cultured, not ignorant, not athlectic, not fat, not liberal, not conservative, not God worshipping, not atheistic...... we're all different. Instead of telling people in other countries what they need, what they SHOULD think and do, why don't you all ASK them what they wish they could have.
Doesn't it seem a bit more logical? Would you want all of the ill-informed people of the world screaming for your job to be eliminated??? What? You don't have a job??? Oh, sorry...I should have asked you all where you find the time to shop and blog so much in the first place...
urban renewal is made in philadelphia. they use outlaw printing company and a local sewing contractor.
have you ever seen johnny cupcakes clothing? i am from Boston, my girlfriend grew up with john and he is a good friend...his whole concept is biting popular culture (especially local Boston culture). Think about it. The kid could care less what urban outfitters is selling because his shirts are $40-$70...He's looking to make stores on the west coast and Tokyo, and his stuff is consistently unique and exclusive...definitely not worrying about getting ripped off by a corporate retailer. I work at UO after working at a couple other major clothing retailers, and very little of what we sell is our own product. The stuff that is "homemade" is made in the U.S., Philadelphia to be exact. (i like how you don't even know the facts) but most people buy the name brand stuff. How about going after some company like American Apparel, where the owner gets hummers from young employees and advertises in 70 amature porn style. He even has a mustache...how scene/cliche/hipster is that?
I think the whole DIY, hipster thing has gone way too far in terms of fashion. whatever happened to punk rock/not giving a fuck what you wear. i guess that died with the upsurge of red bandannas being tied around ones neck and lip rings. yay progression.
It's amazing that someone would actually take the time to post something as MEANINGLESS as this. It's absurd and ridiculous that you're worried about UO biting of some small designer. All the styles that are rotating around in the world are all copies of something from previous times or from other designers, it's not possible to be completely unique.
Also, learn ur facts BEFORE you post something like this.
AND! Why dont u worry more about STARVING CHILDREN and DEFORESTATION instead of meaningless shit about clothing.
To the dude above who said "whatever happened to punk rock/not giving a fuck what you wear"
Oh puleeze...punk rock was never "not giving a fuck about what you wear". Malcolm McLaren was very calculated in how he fashioned the Sex Pistols & outfitted them in Vivienne Westwood's gear. The Ramones didn't just pick those Converse, tight jeans, and leather jackets out of the trash. The Clash put a lot of thought into the DIY spray painted shirts. Even Kurt Cobain's plaid flannel-look was cultivated.
Urban sucks because they knock-off tattered thrift store clothes and mark them up to extreme heights so rich college kids can look like hip art school drop-outs (but let's face it, real true honest-to-god hipsters & artists would never shop there). But when all is said and done, you don't have to buy it if you don't want to.
I know this post is like, super duper old, but I just felt the need to comment:)
actually, the sex pistols were the exact opposite of punk rock. and in fact, im guessing you have no idea what "punk rock" remotely means. didn't they have their own clothing store?
the point is, the 77 punk->hardcore punk -> crust punk scene has stayed around forever and none of it involves fashion.
except of course, the real punk rock kids who shop at hot topic.
I think this is an interesting discussion everyone is having. I thought a few of you might have some opinions on our new clothing line. We make everything ourselves, using high quality products and we market them to small boutiques but we really want to get our clothes into the hands of the consumer without the crazy markups. Any advice in this matter would be helpful. Here is the website http://www.irockclothing.com If you are a store or want to buy anything contact me at adam@shirock.net
Before you jump to conclusions, Urban Renewal is made in Philadelphia. As seen below.
http://video.nbc10.com/player/?id=169418
I'm sure more that half of the crap in your little Mission studio is made in China.
A partner and I recently created an urban clothing line called Ghosticorn Apparel. Like the company’s namesake, each design explores and celebrates the concepts of mythology, superstition and fantasy.
Urban Outfitters request a sample of one of our shirts to consider carrying the design. We still haven't heard anything.
--
TODD MARRONE
Creative Director • Designer • Model Scout
Ghosticorn Apparel
http://www.ghosticorn.com
I just happened to stumble upon this. In response to what stevo said:
I agree with you on a number of levels, BUT: just because these sweatshops might be a "step up" for some impoverished fellows and ladies does not make them morally acceptable. The main problem with these sweatshops is the fact that they overwork and underpay by a GHASTLY amount, and do not offer any benefits or raises. It is blatant exploitation. I do not by any means follow the typical American "their lives suck they just don't know it yet" philosophy when looking at third world countries, and I agree with you that people SHOULD ask the public what it is they would feel comfortable with... but people also need to be informed of what their rights are as human beings. I think it is only right to let people know that they have the ability to protest and that there are ways to get around being abused and exploited in the work place. This "step up" should really BE a "step up"- people need to have a work place where they are not treated as utterly expendable- and I don't think the fact that some people may have been worse off before working in a sweatshop constitutes supporting this whole system.
i was just letting you know that urban renewal is real, i was sent a box full of sweaters to do as i please with along with 14 other people which was followed by a check. just FYI.
Take your pick.
"Like omg! Urban Outfitters is so out! New Vintage shop that sells terrible used clothing, that stinks with inflated prices down the shady looking street is in!!!"
Or
"I'm so Indie Rock I make my own clothes (like we've never heard that one before, it's so original.) Now take that all you wanna be scenesters!"
Have you ever thought about just caring about yourself, rather than what everyone else is doing?
Seriously if you don't like them, then don't spend your money there.
ok, i worked for urban for several years and everyone should know they give money to the republicans. i was so excited to work there, but they quickly crushed my spirit. they are assholes with over priced garbage and they treat their employees poorly. they accused stealing in a very inappropriate way after two loyal years. assholes. don't give these fools your money kids. ps jana is a MONSTER. you know who you are bitch.
i know someone who MAKES the urban renewal clothes. they are NOT sent overseas. She makes them in her own studio.
i just wanted to make that clear.
shut up its a store if you dont like it, shop somewhere else...
JUST SO YOU KNOW...THIS IS WHERE URBAN RENEWAL IS MADE!
(can be found on urbans myspace)
Tell us about the space you work in...how much space do you occupy and how many people are a part of the big picture?
We work in the lovely Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia. Local manufacturing is extremely important to us. We employ a manufacturing staff of 40 that we work side by side with on a daily basis. No sweatshops here! We occupy a 20,000 square foot warehouse space that contains our design studio and vintage archives. It's in the same building as our sewing contractors, who cut and sew our seasonal 60-piece collections.
i agree with the fact that their clothes are not well made. and usually overpriced to insanity. but that is the same with most and almost all stores such as this. (delias, american eagle, aeropostale, ect.) their are so many places and stores like this, so why just pick of UO? i myself do not have enough money to buy a $100 dollar pair of jeans. but if someone does, they dont really care. and the fact that none of their clothes "fit your body" is obvious. all stores such as this have different types of styles, and you just need to find a store that fits you. i personally enjoy some of their clothes. i do agree that their urban renewal clothes are bogus, usually ugly, and flimsy. but seriously. "urban outfitters = SATAN"? there are much more stores to beat down that are much worth. and about the sweatshop assumptions. dont say stuff when you really dont know anything.
bassically my point is, that if you dont like urban outfitter clothes. dont freak out and dont assume. just find anothger freaking store.
I agree uo has alot of crap in their store but they also have some great findings if you look hard enough.I have to say that there handbags are crap but what do you expect for $58?None of the clothes their are inavative and the employees are so FAKE with their converse and skinny jeans and messy hair! However I love marc jacobs he is an original who makes quality clothing you just have to be willing to pay the extra $$$$ and stop complaining
i was just browsing through and doing research on urban, i've been working there for three months and have found it to be a pleasant experience. some of the items (primarily women's handbags) are indeed poorly made, though one can expect such from a large 58 dollar bag. i wanted to research how urban made their clothing, where, and the conditions of labor. i was incredibly curious and that prompted my search.
however, as i came upon this blog, i found a number of comments that were quite irritating.
first and foremost, and this is directed to those who commented on the style of it's employees and it's "fakeness", you are exactly what you criticize. its pretty ballsy of you to say these things and look down upon a specific style, while saying that those with that style think they're "better" than you. it's a little loop of idiocy you're contributing to there, and your comments reek heavily of hypocrisy.
secondly, to the girl who holds marc jacobs in such high regard that he has become comparable to jesus, are you not feeding into a popular trend as well by drooling over the often similar marc jacobs line of clothing and bags? since when does skinny jeans have anything to do with a lack of innovation? There are only so many ways a pair of pants can fit you, and i apologize if i havent the taste for bell bottoms.
racism at urban? you'll be hard pressed to find a store or race that doesn't express some level of racism in some way. However, the least of it is in urban outfitters. we have black/white/spanish/arabic and every other color in the skittles rainbow working there, and they all happen to be awesome people.
any race can claim racism in some way. if i walk into Wet Seal (whose customer is primarily black) theres the attitude im immediately given, and the general dismissive demeanor by both customers and employees. and just to clarify, i am not white, i'm a clearly spanish male with tan skin. a white person would recieve the save treatment, as i've personally witnessed.
when it comes to the urban outfitters i work at, my immediate suspicion was not at all immediately placed at the first black male to enter the store. ive had enough experiences to know that a shoplifter can come in any color or age.more often than not the shoplifters we catch are white females between the ages of 15-22. under the accusations made here, i would never ever be able to suspect a black male of theft, because that's racism of course. unless you see the associate tailing every black person in the store, you can put that racism arguement on the back burner for now.
you cant accuse someone of following a trend because they purchase certain things from a store. if they genuinely like the clothing, then why put them in such a negative light? cant buying from urban and wearing what i want be considered "not giving a fuck" or do i have to start making my own clothes and wearing stained white tees with torn jeans and muddy new balances to be considered my own person?
criticism is often mired in hypocrisy, which i find many people to be guilty of. wear what you want from where you want and if you dont like a particular brand then dont shop there.
i used to steal clothing from the store because i found some of the designs interesting but yet impossible to reproduce, and i knew there was no chance in hell that i was going to waste a shit load of money on unethically made garbage. (ie; like this dress i took one time at ubran outfitter's sister store free people: http://www.freepeople.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.detail/productID/737c1c47-d393-4b96-8be5-3728452ac6b5/categoryID/3c77b415-a309-4742-bc3c-011f2c33ab60 )
since i believe strongly in ethical consumerism, i have never bought a signal thing from urban outfitters. the reason for why i thought it was "ok" to steal clothing from them though would negativly effect the company to some degree, and this was fine since the clothing was scamming off indie artists, mark-up beyound belief, and most importantly made unethically. i no longer do that though because i realised that i don't NEED the clothing, and why not spend my time acuattly buying clothing from artists i want to support? (like many of those who are on esty.com, dude, if you haven't heard of it already you really must check it out)
i do admit whenever i feel agnsty i go out and steal a dress or two from them, but it's all in good old gorilla style protest fun. haha.
PS. oh, and i'm a designer, so if you learn how to create your own shit some a advice from me is to get it copyrighted. urban outfitters is noctorious for having their trained flying monkies searching the web all day and night for designs to market off. unfortunatlly even if you do have you designs copyrighted it's very common to get scammed off anyways, and not be able to afford to be able to battle out the situation in court (let alone afford to pay the cost of losing it).
also, even if you aren't trained in fashion production and design, lovely DIY reproductions of ANYTHING you see in a urban outfitter's catalog are very easy to make, and that way your clothing is; ehtically made, high quality, vegan, etc. if you do want to get the training for designing you own creations it's not very hard to find cheap instructions on all you need to know on the interweb. :)
PPS. "ur very arrogant and perhaps the clothes do not fit you well because your body is not proportioned well. i am a buyer for urban and antrhopolgie and i think it is very ballsy for some nobody to make such a bold statement. hope walmart's new line fits your body better."
sigh. proportioned well? everyone's body is different, high quality clothing is supposed to adjust to that.
she's a nobody? well, she didn't hide behind some fake name and you are.... anonymous. you seem like far more like the nobody of the situation. as someone who "is someone" only britney spears esc losers speak in terms of nobody, just because someone isn't rich or famous doens't mean that they aren't as important as those who are. just listen to "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN" and think for a moment, ...which is the type of stuff urban outfitters tries to promot as them being for. oh, how what a total peice of yuppie, poser, turd pie, with a bit of rotten bananas on the top to give us all sickness of the stomach for months.
also, if you read her post you would have known she's not going to shop at walmart either because the clothing there is even cheaper, made in far more unethical conditions, and overall a unethical cosumerist desicion. plus, you seem like you quite ignorant and arrogant yourself, and ignorance -though it might be bliss- is the way of the fool. obviouslly you didn't go to a good college, otherwise you would know about these issues -if you did go to college at all dude.
"re: marie's quote given to her by uo, "it's designed in (such and such place by so and so)" is exactly what i tell customers at the retail place i work because in all honesty i do know what countries the garments are produced in but i don't know what the conditions are and rather than get into some sort of upsetting conversation about the company i work for while i'm in school, i try the "it's designed in holland" route. so, given that, i'd say that the people at uo probably have bad feelings about the response they'll get if they tell the truth."
a friend of mine used to work for the gap and had to do the same thing all the time and then went on unemployment when the scandolous pictures taken in one of there sweat shops came out a few years ago.
"i first started goin to uo a few years ago and i fell in love...that was then...this is now...i hate the store...one of the things that really started to bother me other than the ridiculous mark up was the attitude of the people...most, not all....that worked there...their "cooler than you" attitude is disgusting...they walk around with all these tattered mismatched clothes on and look at you like your not worthy of the ill made goods in the store...i also encountered a few racial profiling type moments too..being blatantly followed around after ensuring associates that i didnt need help and was only browsing was an ongoing occurence....uo sucks!"
i'm white and even though i would steal stuff from the stores constantly i was never caught. on the other hand though my hawaiian friend was mistaken as indian and followed around urban outfitters and was asking to empty out his pockets at one of the stores in santa monica. (what made the situation even more ironic was i had a collection of stolen urban outfitter hair pieces in my pockets.
oh, and i agree 100% with you about the people there being obnoxious. they need some head-out-of-ass surgery, STAT! i recall once being treated kindly by a girl who worked there when i mentioned i had modeled for diesel once, after she had said to me "where did you get your combat boots? a dumpster?". i wanted to call the cops and say that i was suspious of a young blonde woman in urban outfitters whom seemed crack out, but i'm afraid of bad karma. haha.
"Urban outfitters send most of their work to china, indonesia, and other countries. It is unconfirmed if it is actual sweatshop labor but most believe it is. Urban Renewal is indeed made in the USA. There is a warehouse space in philly where all the design and production is done. The fitment on Urban clothes is terrible because many of the employees have little, no or bad education in the fashion industry. Or they hate the company so much that they try to screw them from the inside. ;)"
dude. that made me laugh for a good ten minutes, because i think if i ever had to stoop to that low of having to work for urban outfitters (cringe!) i'd make sure that all of the shoes squeezed the living hell out of the toes of everyone who happened to buy them.
"Take your pick.
"Like omg! Urban Outfitters is so out! New Vintage shop that sells terrible used clothing, that stinks with inflated prices down the shady looking street is in!!!"
Or
"I'm so Indie Rock I make my own clothes (like we've never heard that one before, it's so original.) Now take that all you wanna be scenesters!"
Have you ever thought about just caring about yourself, rather than what everyone else is doing?
Seriously if you don't like them, then don't spend your money there."
i don't think you read her blog entry, or... maybe you don't give a shit about trying to get urban outfitters change to a route that's more ethical, a la american apparel's production route.
Urbanoutfitters corp has a new line "WE THE FREE" it is the BIGGEST JOKE of all.
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