Fashion brand Fred Perry withdraws shirts adopted by US far-right group
In response to the Black Lives Matter movement, Fred Perry, a renowned fashion brand, has taken a political stance by discontinuing a popular polo shirt design associated with a far-right organization. The Guardian reports that the US-based neo-fascist group “Proud Boys” had adopted the brand’s black and yellow shirts. In alignment with the call for a hate-free and inclusive world, the company has ceased sales in the US and Canada.
Fred Perry expressed on its website that it neither supports nor is affiliated with the Proud Boys. The brand expressed frustration over the group appropriating the “Black/Yellow/Yellow twin-tipped shirt” and misusing its Laurel Wreath emblem. The statement emphasized the shirt’s historical significance in British subcultures, representing inclusivity, diversity, and independence for over 65 years.
Despite the shirt’s legacy, Fred Perry acknowledged that its association with the Proud Boys in North America has given it a different and undesirable meaning. Consequently, the brand halted sales of the shirt in the US from September 2019 and pledged not to sell it in the US or Canada until the association with the Proud Boys ends.
The statement also outlined the brand’s disassociation from any Proud Boys materials featuring the Laurel Wreath or related items. Fred Perry emphasized its commitment to legal action against any unlawful use of its symbols or products by the group.
Founded in 1952 by Wimbledon tennis champion Fred Perry, the brand has been adopted by various subcultures over the years. While its polo shirt became associated with the skinhead movement in the ’60s and ’70s, the brand has consistently denounced its use by far-right groups. Chairman John Flynn, in 2017, expressed the brand’s opposition to the ideals and groups counter to its beliefs.
The Proud Boys, characterized as a far-right, neo-fascist group, admits only male members and promotes political violence. Originating as a joke in 2016, it has garnered international members and faced criticism for glorifying violence and misogyny, despite distancing from its founder Gavin McInnes.
In response to the Black Lives Matter movement, Fred Perry, a renowned fashion brand, has taken a political stance by discontinuing a popular polo shirt design associated with a far-right organization. The Guardian reports that the US-based neo-fascist group “Proud Boys” had adopted the brand’s black and yellow shirts. In alignment with the call for…