Merchandising

H&M Slammed for 'Girl With Dragon Tattoo' Line
December 16, 2011

H&M is coming under fire for its fashion line inspired by "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." The clothing line based on the film, one rape survivor argues, is making sexual abuse chic and fashionable.

ThinkGeek Drums Up Major Advancement in Interactive Apparel
December 15, 2011

ThinkGeek has announced the newest addition to its interactive apparel line: the electronic drum machine shirt. Following in the footsteps of the widely popular electronic rock guitar shirt and electronic music synthesizer shirt, the electronic drum machine shirt features several advancements in interactive musical apparel, including the option to record and play back loops.

British Toy Store Hamleys Removes 'Sexist' Signs After Gender Stereotype Criticism
December 15, 2011

Hamleys has removed "sexist" signs dividing toys into boys and girls departments after being accused of gender stereotyping. The London toy store has scrapped pink and blue signs and replaced them with gender neutral red and white ones. The store now categorizes toys by interest and type rather than whether they're aimed at boys or girls after an online campaign.

St. Louis-Area Stores Give Away Pujols Apparel
December 12, 2011

Four St. Louis-area Pro Image Sports stores gave away hundreds of Albert Pujols shirts and jerseys for free after Pujols balked at the Cardinalsโ€™ offer and signed with the Los Angeles Angels for a 10-year, $254 million deal. Franchise owner Paul Russo, who owns the four St. Louis area franchises, said the items usually sell for between $14.99 and $129.99, but he wasnโ€™t interested in making one red cent.

Forever 21 Pulls Kurt Cobain Flipper T-Shirt
December 6, 2011

Forever 21 sparked outrage amongst Nirvana fans and fast-fashion critics alike by copying the "Flipper" T-shirt that Kurt Cobain designed in 1992. The shirt became a notable signpost of grunge style after the singer wore it during Nirvana's 1992 Saturday Night Live performance.

Kmart Pulls 'Disgusting, Sleazy' Girls Underwear Off Shelves
November 23, 2011

Kmart has been forced to withdraw a line of underwear for young girls that carries slogans such as "call me" and "I โ™ฅ rich boys" after the store was accused of sexualizing teenagers. Kmart has confirmed that it will remove the underwear, which is part of its popular Girl Xpress range, after it was the target of a Twitter campaign led by outraged parents, who described the slogans as "disgusting" and "sleazy."

Toys"R"Us Under Fire for 'Foul-Mouthed' Giggle Triplet Dolls
November 21, 2011

A set of talking dolls aimed at children have caused controversy because of their potty mouths. The You & Me Interactive Play and Giggle Triplet Dolls giggle and burp like real babies, but parents are concerned because they also appear to say the โ€˜Fโ€™ word and the unsavoury greeting โ€˜Hey crazy b****โ€™. The pajama-clad dolls , which are recommended for children aged three and up, are sold by Toys"R"Us in Canada and the U.S. as well as a number of online retailers like Amazon.

Math T-Shirts are Back, This Time Not Offensive
November 18, 2011

T-shirt designers sometimes seem embroiled in a race to the bottom of the offensiveness barrel. However, one purveyor gives us hope with its cute new shirt for girls who get As in math. ThinkGeek is offering its "No, I Will Not Do Your Math Babydoll" in women's and girl's sizes.