Never one to shy away from controversy, Agent Provocateur's co-founder Joe Corre thought of a creative protest message when he discovered that members of the U.K. human rights charity Reprieve had been accused of smuggling underwear to a prisoner held at Guantánamo Bay. And out came the "Fair Trial My Arse" panties which he conceived with Reprieve founder Clive Stafford Smith Corre.
The bright, Guantánamo-orange panties with a "Fair Trial My Arse" on them (The R in arse spells Reprieve as well) are on sale at Agent Provocateur stores in the United States and United Kingdom with half the proceeds going to support Reprieve.
Corre said, "I don't really mind who buys them, or if we sell any at all. As a company we've often taken an interest in the political theater. Whoever said you can't mix business with politics is obviously an idiot, as the two are inextricably linked."
Agent Provocateur's Guantánamo Bay Protest
'Fair Trial My Arse' Panties
Trend Themes
1. Controversial Protest Apparel - The creation and sale of provocative clothing items that express political messages can disrupt the fashion industry, encouraging greater political expression through fashion.
2. Socially Conscious Business Practices - The donation of proceeds to political causes by fashion companies can disrupt the traditional focus on profits, and instead incentivize social responsibility and social activism through consumer purchases.
3. Politics Infused Marketing - Incorporating political messages into marketing campaigns can disrupt traditional advertising, creating connections between social activism and product offerings.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - The fashion industry can be disrupted by incorporating political messaging into apparel, providing an avenue for political expression and consumer activism within the context of consumer fashion.
2. Marketing and Advertising - Marketing and Advertising can be disrupted by incorporating political messaging into campaigns, creating an opportunity for companies to communicate their political values.
3. Social Activism - Social Activism can be disrupted by fusing it with business practices such as donating a portion of product sales to related political causes, or by bringing attention to political messages through clothing items.