Patagonia’s ‘Vote The A**holes Out’ Clothing Tags Spark Mixed Responses Online
Image via Roman Tiraspolsky / Shutterstock.com
Patagonia created a buzz online after hiding the phrase, “Vote the a**holes out,” on a tag inside its latest line of shorts.
A spokesperson for the clothing label confirmed that the political message had been weaved into the labels on the waistband of its ‘Men and Women’s Road to Regenerative Organic Stand-Up Shorts. “We have been standing up to climate deniers for almost as long as we’ve been making those shorts,” Tessa Byers said.
Byers added that the phrase has been a favorite of Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard for years. “It refers to politicians from any party who deny or disregard the climate crisis and ignore science, not because they aren’t aware of it, but because their pockets are lined with money from oil and gas interests,” she said.
The move, however, has been met with mixed reactions on Twitter, and some believed that it was subtle jab to Trump. “I can’t wait for them to go bankrupt,” a Twitter user wrote with the hashtag ‘#Trump2020’.
“I really wish brands would stay out of politics, especially politically driven social issues,” another user wrote.
CNN reporter Ana Navarro, on the other hand, tweeted, “@patagonia, can you please confirm if this is accurate. Cause I’m about to go online and buy parkas in every color.”
Georgia state senator Jen Jordan chimed in, “Way past time to listen to the experts and so something. Vote like your planet is on fire.”
PATAGONIA’s New Tag! pic.twitter.com/llY71SwsQG
— Outlander Magazine (@StreetFashion01) September 12, 2020
.@patagonia, can you please confirm if this is accurate.
— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) September 15, 2020
Cuz I’m about to go online and buy parkas in every color....and I live in Miami. https://t.co/sErIgCspOA
.@patagonia - as parts of our country are literally burning and being destroyed by the effects of climate change, this couldn't be more welcome. Way past time to listen to the experts and do something. Vote like your planet is on fire! https://t.co/kw3UqGTgVa pic.twitter.com/WhmSAug9BW
— Jen Jordan (@senatorjen) September 15, 2020
I can’t wait for them to go bankrupt #Patagonia #Communism #Trump2020 https://t.co/FK5gqhLnMM
— David White (@DavidWhqte) September 16, 2020
My husband has worn Patagonia since the early 80’s. He won’t be buying another thing from them. Civil discourse doesn’t exist anymore. Yes: Patagonia Hid "Vote the Assholes Out" on Some of Its Tags#BoycottPatagonia https://t.co/MTuGs07eji
— JCozz (@TheStoneTamer) September 16, 2020
For real??? I really wish brands would stay out of politics, especially politically driven social issues...@patagonia I don’t think you have a say in who to vote out until you stop paying Asians $1/hr and bring 100% of your farming, milling and factory work to America. https://t.co/BfKh9PbByy
— Nola Svoboda (@NolaSvoboda) September 14, 2020
[via Business Insider, cover image via Roman Tiraspolsky / Shutterstock.com]
