Urban Outfitters is known for being extra. Notoriously so. The trendy clothing brand has gone through controversy after controversy and still manages to get away unscathed.
The latest controversy isn’t as bigoted as the retailer typically likes, but quite ridiculous nonetheless.
when I was like 15 bought my first item of clothing from Urban Outfitters. Urgh what excitement and passion. The electricity
— miki minach (@duwaran16) February 1, 2021
TikTok user Danielle noticed something… familiar about a sweatshirt being sold by Urban Outfitters for $98.
The 20-year-old theater student noticed the retailer was selling a sweatshirt from Parras Middle School, her old middle school in Redondo Beach, CA.
Again, for $98. Anyone who has ever attended middle school knows they’d rather die than spend nearly $100 to plaster their middle school’s name across their chest.
She took to TikTok to prove the design is 100 percent from her middle school apparel.
@daniestie Idec that I’ve posted this everywhere i NEED an explanation #urbanoutfitters #urbanoutfiters #fashion #winterfashion #fyp
First we see the sweatshirt in question — an ordinary, solid-blue shirt with a P.E. logo in the upper corner.
Hmmm… you could pay $98 (plus shipping, probably) for this sweatshirt or you could find a similar one for $5 at any Midwest-region Goodwill store.
Danielle proves this point by showing up in the exact same uniform.
OK, the name on the shirt isn’t “Mason, M.” but it’s close enough.
The post went viral, receiving 1.4 million views and 348K likes.
One TikTok user noticed that Urban Outfitters took down the sweatshirt listing after Danielle’s video went viral.
Another user — like the rest of us — wanted to know where Urban Outfitters got the shirt.
Urban Outfitters has a number “curated” vintage clothing options. Meaning, the brand hires people to scour thrift store racks and mark up the price.
Sustainability, baby.