Women-run store selling spoof 'sex harassment' concert tour shirts
The entire country is bearing witness to the “Knockin’ Em Down Tour.”
While it’s not an actual concert tour, the frequency of the famous men accused of sexual harassment very much resembles one, and thanks to the women’s retailer, Meg, there’s merch for it.
Originally from Canada, Meghan Kinney started her New York business in 1994, as a clothing shop made by and for women. Her team’s latest design: a T-shirt and sweater featuring a list of many of the famous men accused of sexual assault alongside the date on which the allegations against them became public. The front reads, “Another one bites the dust.”
A post shared by megshops (@megshop) on Dec 6, 2017 at 3:13pm PST
Kinney gives credit to her co-worker Alicia Riguzzi for the design. She says the team had been brainstorming plans for another line of items celebrating woman power, due to come out in January, when Riguzzi thought of the idea. Matt Lauer was fired the day before, and the team was particularly disappointed in the allegations against Louis C.K.
“Every week, it was somebody, [and] when you think about dates, you think ‘Oh, it’s like a concert.’ My production manager and design assistant [said], ‘You know what I want to make, I want to make this band T-shirt,’” Kinney tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “I turned to her and said, ‘That is genius.’”
And so, last Wednesday, Meg launched the “Knockin’ Em Down Tour” merch. Names on the back of the shirt include Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly, former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey, comedian Louis C.K., Democratic Sen. Al Franken, news host Charlie Rose, journalist Matt Lauer, and others. President Trump is featured as the last “stop” on the tour, with a to-be-announced or “TBA” “tour date,” because women have come forward to accuse him of sexual misconduct, but he has yet to suffer any consequences from the allegations.
The sweaters and shirts cost $59 and $49 each, respectively, and $10 of each sale will go to the New York Alliance Against Sexual Assault & Women’s Support Network of York Region, Ontario.
Kinney’s shop has long been a supporter of women. Not only is the brand run by women, the team made clothing for the Women’s March earlier this year. Kinney says the current items represent the company’s statement on the current state of affairs and the hypocrisy on the part of the president.
“It’s time we’re setting a standard for the workplace,” she adds. ”I feel lucky that I am a woman who runs her own business, in a group of fantastic women.”
So far, Meg has sold around 100 of the 180 items created, and counting. Although no more of this version will be made after it sells out, given the current feedback, Kinney foresees creating an updated version. She and her team could not resist.
“[The idea] just screamed ‘Do it,” she says.
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