After
the original article titled Gear: What You Rock
and Why? We received several emails from people with feedback
on how the article challenged or convicted them. We also collected
a few links to sites of Christian clothiers who labor to provide
you with quality alternatives. This brief follow-up to that article
will provide you with those links and serve as our unveiling of
a collaboration that will bring you hot Yuinon gear as well as highlight
a couple of disturbing trends in urban clothing we’ve noticed
since the first article.
First,
during a trip to Atlanta earlier this year we (Maji, Neal and myself)
visited a clothing flea market to pick up a couple things. While
browsing we noticed jean outfits with guns sewn onto the shirts
and pants. Needless to say we were flabbergasted. We were like whoa,
has it really come to THIS, we’re rocking gear that showcases
different types of GUNS?! You gotta be KIDDIN’ me! Our conversation
and reaction (I recall my sarcasm flowing freely) obviously “convicted”
the vendor who when we asked to take a picture of the outfits, politely
turned us down. We browsed around some more while Maji discreetly
attempted to use his “palm” to get the picture. The
vendor decided to remove the outfit from his display altogether.
DAG! But as you know, God is a God of a second chance, and when
it comes to the latest in “urban hotness,” (no matter
how misguided and detrimental) ain’t no one vendor
gon have all the stuff. Not to be outdone by his cohort, another
vendor several cubicles away had the same outfit.
By now, we’d gotten over our incredulous
reaction and picked our mouths up off the floor. We even hammed
it up acting like the outfits were the hottest thing since colored
Levis. We were like yo, these are HOT! Now THAT’S what I’M
talkin’ bout, they ain’t got this in Detroit, blah,
blah, blah….” As you can see, we got the picture. The
vendor was even willing to pose in one of them with the gun-glorifying
gear. Upon examination we discovered that this outfit was a part
of 50 Cent’s G-Unit Line (you’d think guns would be
the last thing that brotha would want to see let alone
endorse on some clothes!), which is produced by Marc Ecko, of the
popular Ecko line. So unless word got out or somebody with some
sense said something like, “this is too much yall” this
line of gear entitled, “Welcome to the Hood”
has not seen the light of day, at least not here in Detroit. Maybe
its getting’ rocked hard in the ATL where we saw it and other
southern cities but hopefully not.
Modeling
gear while getting arrested?
"This
ad campaign from the July / August 2004 Source demonstrates
how "thuggery" and capitalism have become strange
bedfellows."
In
correlation with this story, another one that I don’t have
eyewitness verification of involves a highly publicized shooting
that took place here in Detroit during the pre-4th of July fireworks
display. The young man arrested for “allegedly” doing
the shootings was said to be wearing one of those trendy T-shirts
with pictures of various mobsters on them. For him it was Scarface
(like we’ve seen thanks to Cribs and How Ya Livin,’most
of the rappers have a framed picture of Al Pacino in their basements
and/or theater rooms). If this is true, how twisted and ironic is
that? Even if it’s only a rumor the truth is that these T-shirts
are popular.
Maybe you’ve seen them; some have Al Capone,
some have the cast of Goodfellas, some have John Gotti (hmmm, wonder
if that’s Irv’s real last name at The Inc. formerly
Murder Inc.) When will urban consumers cease to make others wealthy
off of the glorification and glamorization of immoral gangsters
albeit fictional, from American pop culture? Usher has been seen
rocking a shirt with Michael Jackson from the Thriller album cover
and if you’re watching, Usher is borrowing quite heavily from
Mike’s dance arsenal. Conversely, what’s sad is that
those who are rocking these retro gangster shirts don’t even
realize how their trendy fashion appetites could be contributing
to their own continuing moral decay and desensitization towards
violence and how they handle themselves when conflicts arise.
With
that said, we want to be able to provide solutions and help diversify
your wardrobe with quality gear that if it has to have
a name or message, it would be one that points people towards something
other than how dope and “hood rich” you are. The Yuinon
has partnered with In Christ Apparel to provide you with quality
gear that you can rep proudly. Brother Carl embroiders custom made
jerseys, shirts and hats for us. His In Christ logo is often accompanied
by the acronym DEAP that stands for Drop
Everything And Pray. So after months of talks and
planning, we’ve found the perfect business partner and now
it’s on! Peep the store
and see what’s in store. Also, here are some additional links
to help you in your quest to add Christ to your wardrobe.
Christian
Fashion Links
After
the original article titled 
In
correlation with this story, another one that I don’t have
eyewitness verification of involves a highly publicized shooting
that took place here in Detroit during the pre-4th of July fireworks
display. The young man arrested for “allegedly” doing
the shootings was said to be wearing one of those trendy T-shirts
with pictures of various mobsters on them. For him it was Scarface
(like we’ve seen thanks to Cribs and How Ya Livin,’most
of the rappers have a framed picture of Al Pacino in their basements
and/or theater rooms). If this is true, how twisted and ironic is
that? Even if it’s only a rumor the truth is that these T-shirts
are popular. 
With
that said, we want to be able to provide solutions and help diversify
your wardrobe with quality gear that if it has to have
a name or message, it would be one that points people towards something
other than how dope and “hood rich” you are. The Yuinon
has partnered with In Christ Apparel to provide you with quality
gear that you can rep proudly. Brother Carl embroiders custom made
jerseys, shirts and hats for us. His In Christ logo is often accompanied
by the acronym DEAP that stands for Drop
Everything And Pray. So after months of talks and
planning, we’ve found the perfect business partner and now
it’s on! Peep the