November 17, 2020
Designers Get Creative With Biden-Harris Merchandise
Victory swag is available in the official Team Joe Store and independent crafters on sites like Etsy.
In the midst of countless twists and turns in the two weeks since Election Day, Democrat Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris are now getting the merch treatment.
America, I’m honored that you have chosen me to lead our great country.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 7, 2020
The work ahead of us will be hard, but I promise you this: I will be a President for all Americans — whether you voted for me or not.
I will keep the faith that you have placed in me. pic.twitter.com/moA9qhmjn8
Though Americans are accustomed to being informed of the president-elect on election night, that didn’t happen this year. In several key swing states, including Georgia, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, continued counting of mail-in ballots and a close race meant the states couldn’t be called in either candidate’s favor. But in the days following Election Day, as news outlets projected Biden to win, his campaign has been preparing for a transition to power.
While the winner isn’t officially declared until the electors of the Electoral College cast their votes, shops have already started churning out victory swag, including new items as part of the Victory collection at the official Team Joe Store.
Independent crafters on Etsy are also getting in on the action, with T-shirts, sweatshirts and accessories celebrating the announcement.
While the Trump campaign outspent their competitors on merchandise ($11.4 million vs. Biden’s $2.01 million), Biden and Harris-branded products have proliferated over the past few months as “moment merch.” For example, during the sole vice-presidential debate, Harris told Vice President Mike Pence, “I’m speaking,” a pithy line that was then put on garments and accessories.
During the first presidential debate, Joe Biden told President Trump to “shut up,” which was also put on garments and hard goods.
In the meantime, gift shops across Washington, D.C. have been gearing up for a possible transition of power by stocking stores with Biden socks and Harris scrunchies.
Every four to eight years, Washington’s gift shops and souvenir stands undergo an overnight transformation.
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 13, 2020
Souvenir sellers are putting MAGA gear on clearance and looking to the President-elect Biden's inauguration. https://t.co/nbOfM777nm
The Environmental Impact of Election Apparel
Can the merchandising of elections be made more environmentally friendly?
Nicole Najafi and Kiana Toossi, founders of Merch for America, have sold out of all of their ’90s-inspired Biden-Harris sweatshirts. That’s good for the campaign and its supporters, but not so great for the environment.
“I definitely don’t want to greenwash what we’re doing here,” Najafi wrote in an email to Vogue. “So, I’ll just say this: The most sustainable aspect of these sweatshirts is that they helped elect a president who will take action on climate change.”
Fashion, especially the recent rise of “fast fashion” – inexpensive duds produced quickly by retailers such as H&M, Zara and Forever 21 to meet swiftly changing trends – has resulted in tons of greenhouse gas pollution during production and waste after the garments are discarded. According to management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, textile production still accounts for 6% of total global greenhouse gas emissions and 10% to 20% of pesticide use. It’s also responsible for 20% to 35% of microplastics that end up in the oceans.
Fortunately, there have been moves within the marketplace to reduce waste. As one example, in June, Zalando SE, Europe’s largest online-only fashion retailer, announced that brands will have to meet sustainability and social impact standards in order to be able to sell on its platform.
Here are ways to limit the environmental impact of event merchandise by extending its use. Consider these suggestions for end-buyers and their intended recipients:
- Create classic designs: “We tried to use designs that are timeless as much as possible,” designer Abrima Erwiah, founder of voter registration initiative Fashion Our Future 2020, told Vogue. “For example, many of the masks we made didn’t say ‘Vote’ on them, but rather had the red and blue colors or had red with stars or blue with stars, designs like that, that are patriotic but at the same time not necessarily tied to an election. … We also use leftover materials and upcycled as much as possible to try to reduce waste.”
- Give the garments a refresh: Add designs to the merchandise to bring it back to life, says Ayesha Barenblat, founder of Remake, an advocacy organization for better environmental and social practices in the fashion industry. “If you’re crafty or creative,” she told Vogue, “I’d suggest hopping onto Pinterest, TikTok or YouTube for a world of DIY how-tos. Perhaps you could sew fun patches on it, paint it, tie-dye it – the options are really endless.”
- Pass them on consciously: Barenblat also suggests reselling the garment or accessory to a resale site like Depop or Poshmark, giving it to a friend or family member, or taking it to a clothing swap, even a virtual one; many general donations end up in landfills. Give it another use, such as a dishrag, knotted rug or quilt; MemoryStitch will create one for you.
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