Fred Perry stated in an announcement final week that it stopped promoting one in every of its signature black and yellow shirts within the US a yr in the past as a result of it had develop into in style amongst members of the group.
“Regardless of its lineage, we have now seen that the Black/Yellow/Yellow twin tipped shirt is taking up a brand new and really totally different that means in North America because of its affiliation with the Proud Boys. That affiliation is one thing we should do our greatest to finish,” the model stated in its assertion.
It stated gross sales of the shirt will not resume in america or Canada “till we’re glad that its affiliation with the Proud Boys has ended.”
McInnes is suing SPLC over the designation.
Fred Perry stated it “doesn’t help and is on no account affiliated with the Proud Boys,” including that it was “extremely irritating” that the group had adopted its shirt and “subverted” its laurel wreath emblem “to their very own ends.”
The corporate described its basic shirts and emblem as “a bit of British subcultural uniform” that ought to signify “inclusivity, range and independence.”
“To be completely clear, should you see any Proud Boys supplies or merchandise that includes our Laurel Wreath or any Black/Yellow/Yellow associated objects, they’ve completely nothing to do with us, and we’re working with our legal professionals to pursue any illegal use of our model,” the corporate stated.
Fred Perry is owned by Japan’s Hit Union. Based on firm filings, 70% of its gross sales have been made in Europe in 2019.
John Flynn, the chairman of Fred Perry, stated in 2017 that the model nonetheless champions the values of founder Fred Perry, a former Wimbledon winner.
“Fred was the son of a working class socialist (member of parliament) who grew to become a world tennis champion at a time when tennis was an elitist sport. He began a enterprise with a Jewish businessman from Jap Europe,” Flynn stated on the time.
“No, we do not help the beliefs or the (Proud Boys). It’s counter to our beliefs and the individuals we work with,” he added.
