Kanye West’s ‘Pablo’ Merch Is Already Being Bootlegged By Forever 21

Kanye West Saint Pablo Tour lead
Getty Image

Kanye West always proclaims himself to be an influencer and trendsetter in fashion. As such, he can now expect everyone to pick up on any designs or pieces he has success with and watch them milk it for their own profit.

Enter Forever 21 and their blatant rip of Kanye’s Pablo tour merch that’s been selling like hotcakes at pop-up shops. The ballin’ on a budget version of the shirt is made by a company named SDC and it features a slogan that reads “Simon De Cyrene For The World,” as if anyone knew Simon De Cyrene well enough to want to be against Simon De Cyrene. The words are styled in the same font as Kanye’s gear and the tee itself has the same distressed look as much of the Yeezy Supply offerings West has made in conjunction with adidas.

But, that is and has been the state of streetwear for a while now. Brand A comes through with a design or idea that catches on with buyers. Brands B – Z hop on the trend and ride the wave as far as it will take them. Forever 21 is just the first of many jacking Kanye’s Pablo style for profit.

Given the reported sell-through his pop-up shops have garnered, ‘Ye’s probably not too pissed about these crummy T-shirts. He and adidas are likely spending more time trying to figure out how to get knockoff Yeezy Boosts by the likes of Steve Madden and a Starbury version off the market before they taint the real product.

(Via GQ)

×