AIBU to be annoyed by GAP? And feel like they should REALLY know better...

[SuzySheepSmellsNice]

(quote from their website)

In light of the above statement and taking into consideration the current social and political climate of increasing racial intolerance and xenophobia, why on earth would GAP deem this to be an appropriate statement to write on a child's T-shirt? Though it may have been created with a different message in mind, 'Locals Only' is not the kind of message that I would expect to see on a shirt, how is that helpful? Aren't we supposed to be promoting tolerance, inclusion and understanding? And I have contacted them directly and they appear to not give even the tiniest of craps.

See pic

It's one of the naffest t-shirt designs I've seen in a long time, but other than that, I see nothing wrong with it.

Locals only... Really?

You can't see how that link in with the 'Fuck off foreigners' mentality?

*that might link in

Not good at all. Someone really didn't think that design through! However, I doubt it was meant to be offensive. Still no excuse. There are some rubbish slogan clothing items around.

I'd be quite offended by that TBH. Seems xenophobic and at worst racist.

'Locals' implies people who are local to a particular area - those people could be of any race or nationality.

I see what you mean, OP, but you have perhaps overthought it

That's awful! It's not even a saying so just seems like a totally random slogan

Of fuck. That's bad.

It's a surfing term.

surfers get annoyed when their local beach ends up full of tourists jumping in on waves and not observing surf-ettiquette.

*oh (no glasses)

Not that it's right, it's just an established thing, at least where I live.

I think given the picture in the background it is a way of implying that only those local to the area (not tourists) - like those who are genuine surfer hippy dudes or whatever. Don't think it's xenophobic.

Yeah it's a surfing term. I don't think it's offensive at all.

Horrible top anyway...

It's pretty random but I think you are overthinking.
My first thought was of a little village pub where everyone turns to stare if a non local walks in. Would never have thought of immigration!

one of my lovely friends was racially abused this weekend (she's from Ukraine and was told to Fuck Off back where she came from) so yeah I may have been thinking about it more than normal, but surely shouldn't they think about possible misinterpretations of lame slogans etc when designing shirts. Primark I might understand, but...

This springs to mind.

OP, you are reading too much into it.

It's a surfing term.

Surfers will talk about beaches being "locals only" - i.e. They're for the local surfing community, not for tourists. It's very bad form to tell tourists where the locals only beaches are.

It's not racist or anything, it's just about making sure local communities have somewhere peaceful they can use.

I live near a very very popular tourist attraction and we joke about having a locals only playground cos it's hidden round a corner.

Primark I might understand, but...

And why exactly would that be?

Generally less PC smugness in the media by Primark really, don't you think?

See I didn't know that about surfing but I will laugh if I see anyone wearing these tops where I live, we are nearly as far inland as it is possible to be