The statement, in support of the AAPI community, was posted yesterday to the Los Angeles based streetwear brand’s Instagram account. In the statement, the brand explained that its name “was inspired by the shops, people, and vibrance of Canal Street and Chinatown in New York but it’s not our name to use. We did not do enough to consider what this name would mean to the communities in Chinatowns across the world and we need to take ownership of this mistake. It’s time to do the right thing and we are committed to being a part of the change”.
The decision comes after a petition created earlier this month which amassed over 3,000 signatures, demanding the brand to change its name. The petition argued that “The concept of Chinatown is not for sale, especially not by a white person who only uses the word Chinatown as a synonym for bootleg”.
The brand has stated that it will work with its partners and retailers to donate proceeds from existing products and work to help fund non-profits working with the AAPI community.
You can check out the full statement by Chinatown market below.
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