by Kathleen Whalen
Editorial Editor
    The bright lights, blaring music, glossy countertops, and cheap, flashy clothes are just a few of the draws that have helped make fast-fashion chain Forever 21 the 376th biggest private company in the US. But there are a few other facets of the company that have helped to further their success; namely, their exploitation of high fashion designers’ creative genius and of the rights of their laborers abroad. These violations seem bad enough as is, but Forever 21’s use of a certain Bible verse on their shopping bags shows that the company’s head figures are deeply morally confused.

    Do Won Chang and his wife, Jin Chang, emigrated from South Korea to Los Angeles, where they opened the first Forever 21 store in 1984. Do Won is chief executive and Jin is chief merchandising officer; both have watched Forever 21 has become one of America’s fastest growing companies.

    The couple is also deeply religious. They attend church every weekday at 5:30 AM. This explains the appearance of the Bible verse John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It seems to me that two of the things Jesus did while on Earth were give a voice to those who were poor and oppressed, and seek to restore compassion in the greedy. I am sure that Jesus would not approve of the company’s current shenanigans.

    Forever 21 has been involved in 50 lawsuits for copyright infringement over the past several years. They have blatantly copied designs from the likes of Diane Von Furstenburg, Anna Sui, Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. and Harujuku Girls lines, Trovata, Urban Outfitters, and Anthropologie. However, Jin Chang played dumb in court with Trovata in 2009, saying, “Even at Gap, Old Navy and those stores, they sell this similar type of stripe. Stripes, they are always similar.”

    Despite the fact that the entire design of the garments, and not just the stripes, were 99.9% alike, Forever 21 received no consequence for their actions. Similar results have come from lawsuits with the many other designers they have stolen ideas from in attempt to reap a profit. Unfortunately, no current law stands to protect the creativity of designers, as there is for plagiarism of written material and music. Says Anna Corrina of Foley & Corrina, “I would understand their being ‘influenced or inspired by.’ Everyone is…But this is just a blatant steal.”

    Of course, high fashion designers are not the only ones that have a bone to pick with the Changs and the rest of the Forever 21 team, but the company’s overworked and underpaid garment workers. It is no secret that Forever 21 utilizes slave labor abroad, although Jin Chang insists that she does not know where the clothes come from. However, those who have been part of communities the company has helped to destroy also have grievances. In 2006, Forever 21 took over the site of the South Central Farm, a large community garden that fed and supported low-income families in the said area of Los Angeles since 1996. Forever 21 evicted the farmers and bulldozed the site for a warehouse and distribution center. Forever 21 also maintains strong ties with the Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa by donating copius amounts of money to his reelection campaign. In doing so, they insure the promotion of their own priorities over the welfare of the South Central farmers and those who benefit from this land.

    The Changs should reassess their priorities if they are serious about the Bible verse that is on each and every shopping bag.

(Sources: NY Magazine, NY Times)