The Actual Inspiration for Jeremy Scott’s Not-’Racist’ Adidas Sneakers?

[FrodosPet]

http://observer.com/2012/06/jeremy-scott-my-pet-monster-06182012/

The Actual Inspiration for Jeremy Scott’s Not-’Racist’ Adidas Sneakers: My Pet Monster
By Foster Kamer

The worlds of fashion, sneaker culture, and political correctness have collided head-on today when—for Monday “kicks,” as it were—The Internet has managed to turn out an ostensibly race-lined fashion controversy.

~ snip ~

“The design of the JS Roundhouse Mid is nothing more than the designer Jeremy Scott’s outrageous and unique take on fashion and has nothing to do with slavery,” a representative for the shoemaker told TODAY.com by email. “Jeremy Scott is renowned as a designer whose style is quirky and lighthearted … Any suggestion that this is linked to slavery is untruthful.”

Adidas is correct: There was nothing about the idea of slavery that inspired Scott’s design. What they likely won’t say—because of copyright law, and because they don’t want to damage their relationship with a designer like Scott by speaking explicitly to his inspirations—is what it is (pretty explicitly) inspired by:

90s cartoon/toy sensation My Pet Monster.

[lame54]

1. My inspiration would be the kids that make 'em

[FrodosPet]

2. So it is not slavery itself inspiring the toy

It is a racist stuffed animal, a caricature of a black man in slave chains which is the inspiration.

[TheMadMonk]

3. Sometimes manacles are just manacles.

And describing something that looks very much like it just leapt off the pages of "Where the Wild Things Are." a cariacture of a black man says a great deal about your personal mental image of dark skinned folk.

[FrodosPet]

6. Maybe I am looking too hard for racism

People across the world are saying the shoes are racist. The designer says they were inspired by "My Pet Monster".

It would seem to follow that if the shoes are racist, that the designer, and the object that inspired him, must be as well.

I don't know. Trying to do the right thing, to think the right thing, to feel the right way - I guess I keep getting deeper in the dog crap.

[EOTE]

4. My Pet Monster is racist?

Thanks for informing me, I had one as a kid. Didn't know I was racist for it. I suppose I have some atoning to do.

[FSogol]

5. Racist stuffed animal?

Looks like a colorful troll/Jim Henson or Maurice Sendak creature rip-off.