AUGUST 5, 2011
We all knew this day would come.
The day when the ultra-religious views of Forever 21′s owners crept out from under their signature yellow bags and onto their shelves.
They’ve always had a penchant for crosses. A sizeable chunk of their accessory stock is crosses. Bedazzled, jazzled, rhinestone dipped and covered in colorful bling, but crosses none the less. Not a biggie. Madonna, anyone? But on my most recent visit to the Glendale Galleria’s Forever 21 store and then again while browsing their online catalog, I noticed a disturbing trend in the graphic tees. Some were just hinting at a shadow of religion, which I’ve seen before from them, but NOW? Now there are items going Holy balls to the wall with tops that have what reads like scripture on them.
Faith Knit Tee: $9.00
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Jesus [Heart] You Top: $9.00
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Holy Fringe Tank: $13.80
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Jesus [Heart] Me Crop Top: $12.80
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God Cropped Burnout Tank: $13.80
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Cropped Thank God Burnout Top: $17.80
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Price/Name unknow - A reader from London sent this in.
I left out the numerous tops with just crosses on them (bedazzled, bejewelered, drag-queen-like crosses) because I thought it would probably be repetitive, but I believe this is a good sampling of the Christian clothing crusade.
In itself, standing alone, the phrase, “Jesus Loves Me” or the word “Holy” splattered across a cheap crop top and worn by some pre-teen Bible thumper doesn’t bother me. I don’t care about your religion. That is, until you use it to make me feel uncomfortable or in a way I think may be preachy.
That’s where THESE tops comes in:
Yours Eternally, God: $13.80
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Pray: $14.80
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Three Words: $14.80
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God Will Guide: $14.80
Amidst the forgettable crosses and Jesus love, THIS stuff jumped out at me, tapped me on the shoulder and whispered, “You are no longer in a store. Welcome to the Sunday morning service you did not sign up for. Now get to prayin’ sinner!”
So, how do you feel about this? Are you alright shopping for deals with a side of Lord and Savior or do you believe in separation of Church and Style?
Forever 21, WTFWJD?
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Holy fringe indeed!
As a Really Bad Christian, I have no problem with this. My issue is how they sell this shirts beside “suggestive” clothing. Mixed messages much.
And also wearing a shirt that just says “GOD” is just WEIRD.
I don’t really love these, especially the more revealing ones, but I am still partial to the one they used to sell that says “Holier Than Thou” and has the back covered in holes. I would wear that just for the pun.
Haha I remember taking that picture!
I see nothing wrong with this at all, ultimately the risk is only on them as they already know it will probably turn off a certain segment of their customer base (see the tone of this article lol). So if you don’t like it, don’t buy it, and also don’t act like you’re entitled to them changing their designs to suit your own taste, and complain about freedom of speech when the company tries to sue you but then protest them exercising that right themselves
God shall come downeth upon the fashion victims wearing these atrocious abominations of cloth and SMITE THEE.
Is the “God” one sarcastic? As in, God this shirt is awful?
Overall I like them. If you want religious clothing it’s nice that there are options and some of them are cute. F21 has had a Bible verse printed on the bottom of their shopping bag since before I was 21. Never known for sure what that was about, but these shirts seem in line with that.
i really want to see where do you buy clothing.