Should Forever 21 sell maternity clothes?
The fast-fashion retailer that caters to teens has launched a "youthful" maternity line. What sort of message does that send?
Forever 21, the go-to fashion chain for stylish and cash-strapped teens, has launched a maternity line called "Love 21 Maternity" in select states, leading some to question whether it's indirectly endorsing teen pregnancy. Three of the five target markets — Arizona, California, and Texas — have some of America's highest teen-pregnancy rates, notes Lilit Marcus in The Gloss: "Coincidence? Or brilliant marketing?" Our line was "never intended" specifically for teens, counters a Forever 21 spokesperson: We're simply trying to attract a new demographic. Meanwhile, Mitzi Sales, a Planned Parenthood exec, as quoted in the Chico Enterprise Record, mocks the notion "that cute maternity clothes might encourage anyone to become pregnant." Laughing matter or serious concern? Watch a local California TV news report:
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