Small Retailers Seize On Trump’s Unpopularity—And Strike Gold

Donald Trump ran on an ambitious platform vowing to return jobs to U.S. citizens, but we doubt he had this in mind: Independent retailers are capitalizing on the president’s record low approval ratings to sell creative, inspiring, and oftentimes humorous anti-Trump merchandise. From politically charged fashion to scented candles that really do stink, a #Resistance economy is growing strong. “I didn’t really have dreams of doing political sweaters,” admits Rachelle Hruska MacPherson. MacPherson is the founder of Lingua Franca, a New York City-based fashion line of embroidered cashmere sweaters that sell for $360 at high-end retailers like Saks and Net-a-Porter. The tops feature phrases like “Original Gangsta” and “Old School,” items that were bought by stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Christy Turlington. It was a modest side business for the entrepreneur, who also runs the media company GuestofaGuest.com. But with the election of Trump, Lingua Franca—which means “a common language”—took a sharp sartorial turn. MacPherson employs more than 30 immigrants, and her husband is half Mexican. The President’s anti-immigration rhetoric hit home. It became personal, and with that, her idea of a common language morphed into something else. Read more at Fast Company.