During New York Fashion Week, a company called Bstroy paraded a line of hoodies with names on it down the catwalk. The names were Virginia Tech, Columbine, Stoneman Douglas, and Sandy Hook. The hoodies ALSO had distressed bullet holes on the material. Yes, they really went there.

“Bstroy, a clothing company created by Brick Owens and Duey Catorze, showcased its 2020 menswear collection in New York City on Thursday. Models were sent down the runway wearing various styles of suits and T-shirts, as well as hoodies emblazoned with logos of four schools that have faced mass shootings: Columbine, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas.

The hoodies were also covered in circular rips that resembled bullet holes.”

Understandably, those who survived the shootings, or are the parents who lost children at Sandy Hook, at those schools were pissed off.

““I would just like to say, what actual the hell is wrong with you. goddamn monetizing off a school shooting. disgusting,” wrote Kyle Kashuv, who survived the 2018 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

Another apparent Parkland survivor commented: “My dead classmates dying should not be a f—ing fashion statement.””

Insider got a nice slam in when the reporter wrote that the reaction of those from Parkland came from folks who“seemingly survived the 2018 shooting…”

Under what scenario could somebody think this was a good idea? This has me so upset. If any of my followers no anybody involved with this clothing line, please ask them to stop it immediately.https://t.co/VzAlog0TCt

— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) September 17, 2019

A clothing line making hoodies featuring schools from famous school shootings with fake bullet holes punched through is peak 2019 exploitative edgy cringe culture.

Completely disgusting and shameful. Goes to show what kind of trash you can get from people “making a statement” pic.twitter.com/gsv4VFJGLs

— Cameron Kasky (@cameron_kasky) September 17, 2019

No kidding. Yet the founders of Bstroy are super proud of themselves for this so-called “fashion” statement. Why? Because IRONY! 

Evidently we are supposed to believe that these hoodies are an attempt to showcase the the irony of going to a school that will or did get shot up by deranged madmen. These hoodies you see, are Bstroy’s telling us this is one of the ways to reach Nirvana. Furthermore, this was referring to all the victims with “reverence.”

Not only that, but they dig a deeper hole by stating that the hoodies weren’t originally for sale, but now they might be because it would honor those who were killed. REALLY?

Look, top end fashion is always about setting a trend and making a statement. Take a look at Bstroy’s fashion show last year.

What I watched was a parade of models showing Bstroy’s gangsta, thug, trash clothes. Oh sure, fashion is always in the eye of the beholder. But this? Promoting gang life along with a slam against the NYPD is their so-called ‘brand.’

That was last year though. THIS year it’s a ‘reverential’ homage to those who were killed at Columbine, Stoneman Douglas, Virginia Tech, and Sandy Hook.

According to the two founders, Brick Owens and Dieter Grams, they have no choice but to make fashion that shocks people. Why? Because of all the decades of slavery.

“Grams told The New York Times, which recently profiled them: ‘We are making violent statements. That’s for you to know who we are, so we can have a voice in the market. But eventually that voice will say things that everyone can wear.'”

Oh I see. Their “fashion” must shock in order for them to then graduate to becoming as famous as Marc Jacobs, Versace, or Ralph Lauren. Got it.

According to Grams and Owens, this line of hoodies is part of their platform that they use to highlight overlooked issues. These hoodies are a commentary on gun violence and are supposed to EMPOWER the survivors of mass shootings. Why? Because the hoodies are telling THEIR story.

Question is, where are all these voices when there is positivity to spread? Why do you only show up in drones to participate in hateful activity? And how can you miss this as a function of the demonstration?

— dieter (@dietergrams) September 17, 2019

As evidenced by the reaction, not a single survivor or family member of one killed during those school shootings wants to see anyone parading around in a hoodie with mock bullet holes. Furthermore, with Grams tweet above, it is clear that he is willfully missing the point.

Grams says the negative response to the hoodies is rooted in prejudice. Horse shit. The reaction isn’t because of prejudice, it is because the designers are exploiting tragedy purely to gain attention and make a profit off of their “fashion.”

Feature Photo Credit: Screenshot of Instagram photo via NBC 6 Miami, cropped and modified