Do you remember Supre’s ‘Santa’s Bitch’ t.shirts for tween girls at Christmas? That charming little tee which told girls they were Santa’s ho, entrenching and mainstreaming pimp culture in girl’s clothing? Take a refresher on it here . Supre told me – and others who complained – they would withdraw them. They didn’t.
Not that long after, they were stocking their racks with “Pussy Power” t.shirts for girls, complete with cute black kitten. That’s right girls, your power is in your genitals. A good strong empowering message for girls everywhere. Thanks Supre.
Now, for the trifecta, Supre has come up with this:
Girls are bitches, they are pussies, and their nipples are erect (maybe they’re not even wearing a bra)according to Supre. Supre seems to find no problems with drawing attention to a girls chest. That’s just what girls need isn’t it, more attention drawn to their breasts.
Tell Supre what you think. Again. Karen Hermann’s email.
19 Responses
I don’t think Karen Hermann’s email is working anymore. For people wanting to contact Supre, try here: http://www.supre.com.au/Help—FAQ/Contact-Us.aspx
Please let us know if you get a response! members of Collective Shout have already started writing letters about this, not sure if Supre have responded yet. My guess is ‘not.’
I contacted them on their website on Wednesday and haven’t had a reply yet. The site says they aim to have someone reply within 24 hours.
Supre disgusts me. It’s like they think of the worst thing to yell at a girl (as an insult) and then emblazon it on the front of a t-shirt and tell girls it’s what they should be pointing attention to.
I wrote the following on Wednesday morning at 9:30 – 2.5 days later and I haven’t heard anything back, despite being told a representative would be contacting me within 24 to 48 hours:
Good Morning, I am disappointed to see that Supre is now selling t-shirts with the words “HIGH BEAMS”. The message you are sending to young girls (because that it IS who shops at Supre – young GIRLS) is that they need to bring attention, to whoever is looking, to their breasts. You are also telling whoever looks at that t-shirt, that they have permission to stare at the wearer’s chest. Bear in mind, this could be ANY man or woman of ANY age, including child sexual predators. These shirts are not funny or playful. They are degrading and what they are doing to young girls that are naive and trusting is despicable. Stop telling our girls that they are sex-objects, and nothing more. These shirts need to be removed NOW.
It’s not just supre, or girl’s clothing.
I saw a little boy today, no more than 3, in a t-shirt that said “Lock up your daughters”.
What kind of parent would dress their toddler in a t-shirt that encourages womanising?
What kind of store would sell stuff like that for toddlers?
Here’s the message I left today, if anyone wants to copy/modify and resend:
Dear Supre,
I am writing to complain about your ‘High Beams’ t-shirt for young girls. I’m assuming that whoever thought this was a good idea does not have children. If you had a daughter, would you want her wearing this t-shirt? If you had a son, would you be happy to explain to him what it means?
I’m sure you are not intentionally insulting women, but now that I’ve drawn your attention to this, can you please consider withdrawing this offensive t-shirt from your range.
I look forward to your response.
Hey Melinda,
I want to contact Supre and regarding the music that they play instore. It’d be uber cool to get them on board in an initiative that values women. I’ve been shopping there lately and have heard songs with the word shit in them as a regular occurance now. I’m going to start a petition of people who agree with the letter i write – people aged 12-25 and i think i can get around 300 names. We are constantly bombarded with different people saying that young people lack respect for other people and how rude it is that they swear in public, etc yet it’s seemingly acceptable, slash normal for this music to be played at Supre. A public place that is targeted at our youth. This is not even targeting the video clips of Lady GaGa and the like flaunting their oversexualising images. That fight’s for another day. Can you please give me some avenues worth pursuing in regards to the best way to contact them and any advice you may have. I was in the class of interns at City Church that you met on the way to Easter Fest this year and Kirsty Emery recommended dialoging with you in regards to the above.
Talk soon,
Bekky
Awesome idea Rebekah! I’d be with you on that – maybe a petition code could be plugged into the Collective Shout site Mel L?
Where do I sign?
Well, I’m really mad now … here’s the reply I got from an identity-less entity at Supre:
Dear Michelle, SUPRÉ would like to thank you for your email and appreciates your opinion on the points raised. We appreciate that some customers can have strong views about certain product that we might sell. These views however can vary strongly and can often be opposing to other customers who show their support for the product through large sales volumes. Some product has a short life and ends up in clearance stores to clear at discounted prices. We do aim to produce product that meets the needs and demands of our customers. This is simply good business. Offending customers is counterproductive to good business.
SUPRÉ always appreciates feedback from customers and always considers that feedback in future product decisions. Thank you for your views and input.
Kind regards, SUPRÉ online
So, Melinda, do you have a next move on this? Petition? Contact the media?
Yeah… I got stuck in… Not impressed!!!
“Your t-shirt designs are beyond sexist, they’re flipping disgusting. My sister and I won’t be shopping at Supre EVER AGAIN. Worst of all, the little girls that buy your clothes hardly recognise the innuendo attached to the slogans/pictures you use in your designs. It’s a bloody disgrace and a slap in the face of the women who fought (and some even died) for our freedom and independence. Especially those ‘high beams’ tees, gee, why don’t you just sell ‘daddys little whore’ tees and get it over with?! YUCK!”
OK, here’s my second email to Supre:
Dear Supre,
I’m disappointed with your response.
First, I’d like to make clear that I would not feel the need to complain if this t-shirt (or your ‘Santa’s Bitch’ or ‘Pussy Power’ t-shirts) was selling in a sex shop, or selling on-line at a sexy lingerie website.
However, your biggest clientele is young girls – many still at primary school – and I wonder how far you would go to meet what you imagine to be their ‘needs and demands’ – will you be selling a condom with every t-shirt next season? – would that be ‘good business’? I would have thought you were already meeting their needs and demands – and making a profit – by providing fashionable and very affordable clothing.
I would argue that these t-shirts carry the message that women should be available for sex at all times.
What will it take for you to withdraw these t-shirts? I ask because I’m planning to test whether my views really do ‘vary strongly’ from those of the broader community on whether it is ‘good business’ to sell t-shirts with sexually explicit slogans to girls who are legally not old enough to have sex.
You may indeed find offending those of us holding these views to be counterproductive to your business.
I look forward to your response.
Supre’s response was pathetic. Firstly, terribly written. Secondly, did not make a scrap of sense. Thirdly, it didn’t actually say anything about the issue. When will this shop realise that it doesn’t matter what sells well, but that they also have a corporate social responsibility.
I sent a second email as well:
Hi,
Thanks for your response, however it does not make sense.
The point is, it doesn’t matter if a bunch of 12 year olds buy a shirt that says “HIGH BEAMS” on it. They are too young to know better. If a disgusting product like this sells well, then shame on you. It is not something to be proud of and that money is dirty money.
Rather, it is Supre’s responsibility to ONLY sell items that they would be happy for their own daughters to wear. Supre has a corporate social responsibility to NOT send the following messages:
1. It is okay to stare at a girl’s chest, regardless of her age or your age
2. Girls should draw attention to their chest, and it doesn’t matter who looks.
Make a stand, and let our girls be girls. Celebrate their inner beauty, and let them know that they are worth more than what is on their chest.
I am 13 years old and thanks to my sister I would never ever shop at supre. She told me how bad it makes you look to people and that it makes you look really slutty – which is true. I hope other girls realize that supre is terrible and doesn’t look good.
Why would you ever shop here, these clothes are not even cute! There is so much better girls clothing out there than this.
Dear complainers,
It has come to my attention that only fat, ugly people have a problem with Supre…as they are upset about looking like a trash bag all the time. I think you should all get off your high horses and realize a billion dollar company is not going to listen to a few old losers. I’m sorry I had to be the one to tell you. I just had to get it off my chest. I also think it’s terribly sad that you spend your time complaining! You obviously have issues.
Oh by the way, Supre doesn’t make anyone buy their clothing. So um shutup. 🙂
Regards,
Rosie
Yeah I agree with Rosie…
And for your information not only 12 year olds shop at supre.. and if they are buying those shirts then its their mother’s fault, not yours.
So get off your high horses and stop your little bitch session, because as Rosie stated- they’re not going to actually listen to you people.
Haha thankyou Aly!!
🙂