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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be irritated with all the USA themed clothing?

110 replies

Pihrd · 21/04/2025 22:54

Why can’t you get a plain hoodie or tshirt any more? They’re all emblazoned with New York, Chicago, Illinois, Michigan, Arizona etc.

I can see buying one if you’re in that state on holiday, but why are they being sold everywhere in the UK? Are they selling them with Blackpool, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast on them in the US?

You see Paris or Milan ones too but the states dominate. Why are clothing manufacturers doing this? And why are people buying them? Let us have plain clothes please!

OP posts:
hereismydog · 21/04/2025 23:22

Shitmonger · 21/04/2025 23:18

You have to tell us which state it was! 😂

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The one with Lincoln as its capital city Blush

chateo · 21/04/2025 23:23

I’ve got one with Seattle on. Never been but would love to one day when Trump isn’t in power. Weird that it bothers anyone else tbh. I see loads of plain ones too.

Sunsweetsandandicecream · 21/04/2025 23:28

I can understand wearing it, if it is somewhere you've visited on holiday, and have fond memories though, or if it has a connection in a nother way/somewhere you want to visit. Otherwise, it's a bit random, almost like wearing a team shirt of a sport you know nothing about/don't support. I'm not bothered by it though. I have a few!

ItGhoul · 21/04/2025 23:30

They’re everywhere because lots of people like them.

It isn’t remotely difficult to find plain ones.

Sunsweetsandandicecream · 21/04/2025 23:30

chateo · 21/04/2025 23:23

I’ve got one with Seattle on. Never been but would love to one day when Trump isn’t in power. Weird that it bothers anyone else tbh. I see loads of plain ones too.

Definately go for it, I went many moons ago. It was incredible!

Original poster
Pihrd · 21/04/2025 23:46

FKAT · 21/04/2025 23:15

Yes you're right. It's physically impossible to buy any t-shirt that doesn't have the name of an Ivy League university on the front. I believe it's now illegal in fact. Fewmin'.

Right, well, thanks for that.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pihrd · 21/04/2025 23:48

Meadowfinch · 21/04/2025 23:18

There are plenty of plain sweatshirts & hoodies around. I don't see the problem.

Just choose something else.

It is difficult to get a plain hoodie or T-shirt.

OP posts:
nyancatdays · 21/04/2025 23:50

mathanxiety · 21/04/2025 23:12

You don't have to buy them if they're not to your taste.

There's clearly a market for them if they keep on stocking them, so somebody must like them.

For some reason they are everywhere in the shops this season and have been since January. I suspect someone in some design forecasters a few months ago thought it would be the in look this year (maybe on a wave of hopeful Kamala Harris optimism?) — but didn’t quite anticipate the extent of the last couple of months’ Trump-Musk shenanigans and the strength of anti-US feeling 😆🤦‍♀️

Original poster
Pihrd · 21/04/2025 23:50

chateo · 21/04/2025 23:23

I’ve got one with Seattle on. Never been but would love to one day when Trump isn’t in power. Weird that it bothers anyone else tbh. I see loads of plain ones too.

It bothers me because you see a lovely coloured, comfortable looking piece of clothing that you think would suit you. Then nine times out of ten it’s got a random place name emblazoned across it. I just don’t understand why.

OP posts:
Speckson · 21/04/2025 23:51

Slightly off topic, but our Canadian cousins found DH's "Studland" t-shirt hilarious.
We live near Studland and it had never occurred to us that it might be misconstrued.
(nb. available in many colours from the National Trust shop 😁)

Crazybaby123 · 21/04/2025 23:57

I think they've always been a thing for decades.
There was a phase in the 80s and 90s of having the Disney hoodies. Actually loved mine!
I don't have one but I can see why theyre popular.

LoneAndLoco · 22/04/2025 00:22

Yes, I can’t say I want American merch after the past couple of months of turmoil caused by their dear leader. No thank you.

DiscoBeat · 22/04/2025 00:29

I agree, so many bloody slogans. My teens hate it too. We love Uniqlo

CookingFatCat · 22/04/2025 00:34

Agree! Worse is all the bloody Disney stuff.

Galwaygirlxxx · 22/04/2025 00:42

No idea but it's always been a thing here in Ireland and primark is Irish so you can blame us 😂

GarlicSmile · 22/04/2025 00:42

YANBU about the absurdity of wearing souvenirs of places you've never been to, or fan gear for teams you don't follow. But YABVVU to assert that it's hard to find plain sweat tops!

I have way too many sweatshirts & hoodies. Only two have got writing on: my Adult Human Female hoodie, and a 'keep your distance' sweatshirt from the pandemic. I'm wearing that one now, as it's no longer suitable for general use - though it could be useful in some circumstances, I guess.

steff13 · 22/04/2025 00:43

Needmorelego · 21/04/2025 23:16

@mathanxiety you live in America don't you?
Can you tell us - does Walmart or Target sell hoodies with "London" or "Yorkshire" printed on? We need to know 😂😂😂

I do, and they do not. Nor do they sell hoodies with any US cities on them, other than the cities that are close to where the stores are located. At least not in my area.

steff13 · 22/04/2025 00:45

hereismydog · 21/04/2025 23:22

The one with Lincoln as its capital city Blush

Show quote history

You couldn't just say Nebraska?

NattyTurtle59 · 22/04/2025 02:23

Meadowfinch · 21/04/2025 23:18

There are plenty of plain sweatshirts & hoodies around. I don't see the problem.

Just choose something else.

This. If you don't like them then you don't have to buy one, but why is it so hard to accept that some people might just happen to like them? Incidentally you can also buy them in other countries, it's not just a UK thing, and I have seen people wearing sweatshirts with London on the front.

Original poster
Pihrd · 22/04/2025 02:31

NattyTurtle59 · 22/04/2025 02:23

This. If you don't like them then you don't have to buy one, but why is it so hard to accept that some people might just happen to like them? Incidentally you can also buy them in other countries, it's not just a UK thing, and I have seen people wearing sweatshirts with London on the front.

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Why though? Why do you want to walk around with Minnesota plastered on your jumper when you couldn’t point at it on a map?

OP posts:
SharpOpalNewt · 22/04/2025 02:58

I've seen tons of hoodies with London, Oxford, Edinburgh, Manchester etc emblazoned on them, and people actually wearing them. And it's really easy to buy plain hoodies, they are sold everywhere!

Jumpingthruhoops · 22/04/2025 03:05

Pihrd · 21/04/2025 23:48

It is difficult to get a plain hoodie or T-shirt.

Show quote history

It really isn't. If you're in Primark, they are quite literally next to the 'Harvard' or 'Yale' ones.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 22/04/2025 03:20

Pihrd · 22/04/2025 02:31

Why though? Why do you want to walk around with Minnesota plastered on your jumper when you couldn’t point at it on a map?

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Eep… not sure that is the flex you thought it was. But alas all of those flyover states do look alike 😁

Photo: The folks over at Buzzfeed asked their staff in London to try and label all the states on a US map. These are the hilarious results... full link.

www.sunnyskyz.com/blog/563/People-In-London-Tried-To-Label-The-50-US-States-On-A-Map-These-Are-The-Hilarious-Results

To be irritated with all the USA themed clothing?
AprilBunny · 22/04/2025 07:35

chateo · 21/04/2025 23:23

I’ve got one with Seattle on. Never been but would love to one day when Trump isn’t in power. Weird that it bothers anyone else tbh. I see loads of plain ones too.

I’m going next month before an Alaskan cruise, I’m really excited.

SwanOfThoseThings · 22/04/2025 07:40

My husband has one with 'California' on it. He was after a sweatshirt and saw it on the sale rack in a charity shop for £1, and thought it would do the job; i.e. fit him and keep him warm. It's a good quality, thick garment. Not everyone is making a statement with their clothing.