The 11 Ways Forever 21 Is Selling Its Religion

I knew this day would come.

The day when the ultra-religious views of Forever 21′s owners crept out from under their signature yellow bags and onto their shelves.

They've always had a penchant for crosses. A sizeable chunk of their accessory stock is crosses. Bedazzled, jazzled, rhinestone dipped and covered in colorful bling, but crosses none the less. Not a biggie. Madonna, anyone? But on my most recent visit to the Glendale Galleria's Forever 21 store and then again while browsing their online catalog, I noticed a disturbing trend in the graphic tees. Some were just hinting at a shadow of religion, which I've seen before from them, but NOW? Now there are items going Holy balls to the wall with tops that have what reads like scripture on them.

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Amidst the forgettable crosses and Jesus love, a few of these tops jumped out at me, tapped me on the shoulder and whispered, "You are no longer in a store. Welcome to the Sunday morning service you did not sign up for. Now get to prayin' sinner!"

So, how do you feel about this? Are you alright shopping for deals with a side of Lord and Savior or do you believe in separation of Church and Style?

Forever 21, WTFWJD?

For more WTF, visit WTForever21.com.

 

Follow Rachel Kane on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@wtforever21

Comments

[Hannah F]

01:15 PM on 08/29/2011

"Holy balls to the wall" is one of the greatest things I've read.

[huffingtor]

02:51 AM on 08/29/2011

yikes.

[mikef0182]

01:48 AM on 08/29/2011

I saw the words believe, faith, love, hope, peace, but nothing about condemnation or death to sinners. So, for the writer, who infers that the inspirational clothing sold at F21 is designed to pass sentence, I pose this question, Was it a t-shirt or your conscience that created an uncomfortable conviction that caused you to question the stores atmosphere and the possibility that you may not live up to God's standards? Despite historical religion and the human traditions that have infected it, true Christianity is about God reconnecting with humanity through Christ not finding an excuse to send us to hell.

[Kasey Baker]

01:31 AM on 08/17/2011

Having worked for Forever 21 for over three years, and having been raised going to church every single Sunday, I can say without a doubt that Forever 21 is the most un-Christian company I have ever worked for, yet it has been the only one blatantly professing its religion. The way they treat their employees is abhorrent. Their corporate practices allow for the bare minimum required by law. They are also have been guilty of copying the work of other designers... at least 50 lawsuits just for copyright violations. We regularly had to pull items from the sales floor because they were the target in a new suit. Also, why do you think the clothes are so cheap? They're made in Asian factories by people working in horrible conditions for hardly any money. Speaking of money, after three years at Forever 21, with a positive rating of at least 90% on all my evaluations, I left making $8.45 an hour. The only person reaping rewards of hard work is Mr. Chang. If that's what Jesus would do, I want no part of Christianity.

[mamaofone]

11:57 PM on 08/16/2011

I am glad F21 expresses their Christian views, whether its on the bottom of the yellow bags or on tshirts. Reading the comments it seems as though theres an issue with having the "religious shirts" placed next to thong underwear, or that they show some stomach. Believe it or not, Christian women wear thongs, and cropped tops too :) They are sharing their beliefs in a way that would encourage others to do so (I don't think the shirts are very stylish, but I'm sure younger girls might) I would rather see the words "pray" or "jesus [hearts] you" on someone's shirt rather than the "i love school.... not" that promotes a "too cool" attitude (as the author wrote about), or the "I [heart] rich boys" that is just petty and sad.

[fiirstladyal]

11:34 PM on 08/16/2011

Rachel, this is not directed at you as you as I do realize you just posed a question from shopping observations. You asked how we felt about the store sharing their "religious views" during our shopping experience. I "feel" that (as a Believer), I often walk in stores and see stuff with skulls, graphic images and demonic things that mock God, but someone thinks it's not okay for this store to have select items that honor or represent Christ? The same way I skip over that other mess on the rack that contradicts my faith, people who are complaining about this store or any other like it can do the same or shop somewhere else. It's not complicated. I don't think anyone can say they are FORCING anybody to jump on their bandwagon. They are simply selling a product that may or may not appeal to a certain population of people. I'm like take it or leave it. I do think it's commendable of them to not be ashamed of representing the one they believe blessed them to do what they do.

[hopefulme]

07:32 PM on 08/15/2011

I don't see why there is a problem that Forever 21 sells "Jesus clothing." Just because they're selling it doesn't mean you're forced to look at it and forced to buy it. If you don't like it, then just move along to the next row and find what you're looking for.

[sweetchuck]

11:24 PM on 08/15/2011

AMEN!

[Liberalibrarian]

03:04 PM on 08/15/2011

Good article. I think the difference between the Buddhist clothing and the Jesus! clothing is that it is pretty clear that the Jesus! people want to take over my country, my privacy, my body, my beliefs. It is fundamentally (pun intended) a part of the evangelical religion to prosetylize and try to convert.

That is not the case with Buddhism or Hinduism. Moreover, Buddhist and Hindu iconography are openly and colorfully used in their culture and religion, decorating everything from bus windshields to cows. It's like a Latin American use of Indo-Catholic iconography. More for the adherant than for the convert...

So, the case for the forever 21 T-shirts becomes a little less innocuous when seen in their overall goal: to convert me from my Buddhist/Hindu/Pagan or otherwise non-Xtian ways...

[damomb01]

07:47 PM on 08/14/2011

You seemed to have liked their styles prior to realizing that the business owners were devout Christians...now, after a "revelation" of your own, you find their inspiring work to be wrong?!! Then stop buying, but don't complain unless it's a worthy complaint. Having faith and professing it in your work is not something to be ashamed of, and I am glad this company has found a way to reach out to others with their style! Maybe you SHOULD be going to church...and get the message.

[Rachel Kane]

08:13 PM on 08/14/2011

I always knew about their religious belief. Under what evidence did you gather the assumption that I suddenly stopped liking their "styles" once I realized the owners were devout Christians? Are you inside my head and I don't know it? Are you ... Are you watching me?

[OroroM79]

12:22 PM on 08/14/2011

As a proud Atheist, I have known for quite some time that the family who owns the f21 are devout Christians. They are also immigrants who literally made something out of nothing and give it to the consumer at an affordable price. As a firdt generation kid, I love hearing stories of how people came to this country with nothing and built an empire! I love F21! However, I find it ironic that they would peddle god and maternity clothes for teens at the same time. I'm 31, and I shop there but I found that fact to be pretty shocking, considering the states where this was launched has some of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the US. But I am sure that wasn't by accident!

[Abigailia]

09:00 PM on 08/12/2011

Ugly and ugly.

[cobbjann]

01:41 PM on 08/12/2011

Really? What is the argument? That a business can not sell religious inspired articles? I love that they sell a variety of things and if they want to sell things that say, "I love Jesus" then go for it!

[Lisa Hyatt Haywood]

09:33 PM on 08/12/2011

I so agree. My daughter loves Forever21 & we didn't even know the owners were Christians. I'm a Christian & so are my daughters, but she didn't shop at Forever21 because it was a Christian-owned store. Rachel, if you don't like the fact that the store is selling Tshirts that have "love" "God" "Jesus" or "hope" on them, then I have some advice for you: DON'T SHOP THERE!!! It's not your business what they sell. I don't like some of the crap Hot Topic sells, but I don't go screaming on the Internet "They've crossed the line! They should take that tshirt down that shows a member of something call SlipKnot hanging themselves!!" Stop your whining & get a life. BTW, God bless you!!

[Rachel Kane]

02:52 PM on 08/14/2011

I never said they shouldn't sell these shirts or "take that shirt down." I am now convinced no one is actually reading what I have written. And BTW, your insincere "God bless you" is exactly what makes me feel the way I do about a shirt telling me the wearer trusts that God will guide my soul.

[Kasey Baker]

01:54 AM on 08/17/2011

You should probably look into their corporate practices. They're about as un-Christian as you can get.

[Ed Cureton]

11:09 AM on 08/12/2011

I'm not sure I follow. I see this cross tagged as "funny" ... are you commenting on the juxtaposition of risque clothing with suggestive? If so, I can see the irony. Selling out personal values to reach a broader audience...

But, if not, I don't see the problem in it. They're a private business that can sell whatever they want. I'm no more upset about them selling jesus tees than I would be if they had a gimp suit.

[Ed Cureton]

11:21 AM on 08/12/2011

crap. I wish I could edit this. I meant risque clothing w/ pious.

[3Nox]

06:40 PM on 08/12/2011

But you can! There's an Edit button at the bottom of each of your comments, before the Permalink and Share it links.

[BAK21]

10:54 AM on 08/12/2011

A "disturbing trend in graphic tees?" That's the most ridiculous exaggeration I've ever heard. I see Buddha used as a style trend left and right, even at F21, and I'm no more disturbed by it than scripture on a t-shirt. Get over your intolerance.

[Chynna Bell]

10:52 PM on 08/11/2011

Rachel Kane: ignore the negativity. The uptight responses are comical and typical of the Sunday set. Not a judgement, besides they've cornered the market on judging.

What I have never understood is why F21, clearly quite religious as indicated by the scripture printed on the bottom of their sunshine happy bags, would market sexually suggestive clothing to the tween set. Each item they sell is shorter, tighter, lower cut and stretchier than the last and sold at price points perfectly suited for any impressionable teen's allowance. It just seems antithetical to the typical "religious" cause of abstinence and purity. But what do I know? I watch football on Sundays.