'Make it fashion': Twist behind $49 coronavirus merch
A man in the US is gaining attention for selling merchandise themed around the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
His range of baseball caps come in trendy colours such as black, white and stone and are embroidered with the words ‘social distancing’ in a fancy script.
“Pandemic protocol, but make it fashion,” reads the product’s witty tagline.
At USD$29.99 (about AUD$48.50) a pop the hats aren’t cheap, posing the question, is it ok to profit of a deadly virus that has claimed the lives of 37,500 people around the world to date?
Well, in this case, the answer is yes — for one unexpected reason.
“All profits will be donated to Meals on Wheels, which brings much-needed food to the elderly so they can stay inside, in the comfort and safety of their homes,” states the website blurb.
The creator of the Social Distancing Hat brand, who wants to remain anonymous, says he came up with the idea at the kitchen table one night while in self-isolation.
“I'm a guy quarantined at my girlfriend's house who wanted to raise money for a good cause,” he told the Cut on Friday.
He added that he’s ‘proud’ his project is helping others and, as of Saturday, has raised ‘USD$4,000 and counting’ (about AUD$6,500) according to an Instagram post.
Along with the social distancing hat, the brand is selling a ‘limited edition’ version for USD$32 (about $AUD52) featuring the word ‘Faucci,’ a play on the luxury designer label Gucci and the name of the leading US government infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci.
Brands slammed for COVID-19 merch
It’s not totally clear how the social distancing hats have been received as most of the brand’s Instagram posts have had the comment function disabled. Where commenting is possible, the sentiment is positive, with one fan writing, “Amazing”.
Other brands, however, have landed in hot water over their COVID-19-inspired products, including Aussie fashion retailer Natalie Rolt.
Known for its evening wear, the Western Australian label decided to pivot to selling handmade face masks that, as it turned out, were not medically graded.
Amal Clooney’s sister Tala Alamuddin also came under fire for producing her own version of a ‘luxury’ face mask — called ‘Le Masque’ — for $USD33 face mask (about AUD$57).
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