In an age where news spreads like wildfire, Urban Outfitters’ recent controversies have become quite well known around North America. I’ve never been to Urban Outfitters, and I probably never will. To some extent, the brands that you choose to associate yourself with say something about who you are or the values you might have.  Urban Outfitters has clearly had some horrendous product ideas in recent times. They have been forced to apologize and pull these products in certain instances. In the world of social media, potential consumers who might never have seen these products in the stores are still able to view some of these atrocious designs online. Which asks the question, how can a global company allow some of these products to go on sale to the public?

They have come under the scrutiny of the public due to offensive and thoughtless clothing designs. The most recent slip up was a T-shirt with the words “Eat Less”. Corporations have always been criticized for subconsciously making woman feel self conscious about their body image and contributing to the growing number of women with eating disorders. Many women go through serious depression and experience severe insecurities. A downside of social media is that we are constantly forced to see beautiful people everywhere we look. From our friends to famous celebrities, a person suffering from mental illnesses has no escape from a constant reminder that they might not fit society’s image of beauty.

However, Urban Outfitters seems to be doing this in the most careless and blatant manner. Instead of promoting a healthier lifestyle and embracing individual beauty, they seem to be stuck in the dark ages of advertising through the belittling of  the consumer.

A look into their other controversies. http://theweek.com/article/index/220370/racist-navajo-attire-and-7-other-urban-outfitters-controversies