Mixing faith and fashion at Forever 21

Every time shoppers leave an outlet of Los Angeles-based Forever 21, they walk away with a bit of spirituality along with their sequined tunic (only $22.24!). A story by the Times' Leslie Earnest notes that Don and Jin Sook Chang, owners of the fast-growing apparel chain, are devout Christians who often attend 5:30 a.m. prayer services and have given millions to their church. Evidence of their strong religious convictions can also be found at the bottom of every Forever 21 shopping bag:

Each bag is inscribed with "John 3:16" -- the New Testament passage that says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."

That may seem odd to some but not to those who consider shopping a religious experience.

-- Jesus Sanchez

Photo: Stefano Paltera/Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Josie Clunt.]

What a bunch of hypocrites! Forever 21 is notorious for ripping off designers and they have several pending lawsuits against them for copyright infringement.

[Hypocrites]

Too bad Forever 21 is one of the worst violators in the apparal industry. Their garments are sewn by contractors that pay the worst wages in the United States, working long hours and receiving not even minimum wage, let alone overtime and other benefits. If they were truly Christian, the money that the "donate" would go into the pockets of those that actually make their clothes

[isic]

serious sign of the decline of our civilization! religion is so corrupted and lost from it's true meaning that people will do anything for churches now. including give them all there money and putting faith in god that something will help pay there rent. what they need to do is believe in nothing but themselves and live if without being lied to by religious freaks who take your money. and the hell with forever 21 they suck. it's just yet another scheme to get more money from lost souls

[Ian]

Its their money and if they want to give it to their church its their prerogative. I'm no defender of churches but why should they be criticized for doing what they want with their money? Would you feel better if they spent more of their money on fancy cars, fabulous homes all over the world, and gorging themselves in luxury goods all the time? If they're doing something illegal that's one thing but what they want to do with their money is a whole other issue. There's a lot envy going on and apparently a lot of people who feel the Christian church wronged them somehow. Boo hoo. Get over yourselves.

[Anna Maria]

My teenage daughter showed it to me. The first time I saw it I was overjoyed. John 3:16 printed on the bottom of the Forever 21 bags is a wonderful thing for the owners to do. Good for them ! God bless Don and Jin Sook Chang.
John 3:16 is the most important message of the entire bible; "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
By printing this bible verse number on the bottom of each bag they are, in a small humble way, doing something to spread this good news as Christian people. They are not forcing anything on anyone.

I look at that bible verse as a reminder of what is really important in life and I think twice about my own personal issue with worldly materialism. (Makes me not want to spend too much, more than I need to anyway, and focus more on loving others and living right.)

[robin]

Some of you who left comments are so negative. I love their clothes and they have every right to spread joy and faith to others. Wish others well and it will do you good.

[dos cojones]

it's like in n out burger having bible verses on the bottoms of cups.

it's hilarious how some people are getting worked up and offended over this. who gives a shit? if you honestly find yourself getting all worked up over this then turn off your computer and go outside or grow a pair.

[j. Beard]

The Bible states that if you are ashamed of God before men, He will be ashamed of you when you reach his kingdom. The Chang's are doing exactly what Jesus commissioned us all to do in Matthew 28: 19-20.

Completely support their efforts to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in the most effective way possible, thru fashion.

Genius!!!

[LISA]

WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS GREAT! MANY PEOPLE TEND TO FIND FAULT IN ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH RELIGION. GOD GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXCEPT HIM OR NOT. DONT GO AROUND BEING JUDGEMENTAL,GOD DOES NOT TO THAT TO US. THERE ARE NOT MANY POSITIVE THINGS THESE DAYS. FOREVER 21 IS POSITIVE AND WITH THE LORD BY YOUR SIDE U SHALL OVERCOME AND SHINE!!!!!!! BLESSING N CONTINUE TO THE LORDS WORK.

[janel]

hey, i think its cool, & i dont get why som peeps get so po-ed. what christians (true blue christians, not the vatican or teleevangelist, with an exception to some) do to anyone? it makes me luv them even more!

[made in the USA]

Does this store actually use American labor and operate in the good ole USA.

THANK GOD!

[dkr]

My girls love it and consequently I do too. Prices are reasonable. Fashions are cute and somewhat modest. Everybody comes out happy and I love seeing the scripture on the bag. May Christ Be Glorified!

[kyle bryant]

I LIKE THE WAY THEY PROMOTE THERE FAITH IN JESUS BETTER THEN THE WAY YOU DONT NO ONE IS PERFECT THATS WHY HE CAME SILLY PANTS

[jordan]

This happens to be one of the stores that most successfully grabs my attention. I'll take the store and their bags any day.

[Wanda]

My young adult daughters absolutely love Forever 21 Stores. They are very much impressed with the stores presentation as well as the merchandise. However, while observing one of the stores' bags that was hanging from my daughters room door knob, I noticed the scripture John 3:16. I thought that, this is an awsome thing, what a great evangelistic tool. It would be great if the actual scriptures would be printed out. Go all the way Forever 21! By the way what about a store for the Forever over 40 crowd?

[Jill]

Excuse me? HYPOCRITS?! Are you kidding me. They are a fast fashion merchandiser. They copy couture clothing for less by using cheaper fabrics. I'm a fashion merchandising and retail management major. You are an idiot. They have the right to do that, and that has nothing to do with being a hypocrit. Why can't discount savvy individuals look cute for less too?

[Amanda]

Horrible...I would never support Forever 21 or its owners. They seem to excel at ripping off high end designers which shows their lack of creativity. I understand that fashion trends have a natural process of filtering down to the masses, but doing so in such a cheap manner is deplorable. Way to profit off of the original designer's hard work. Forever 21 has been associated with horrible business practices including using sweatshop labor and not giving their workers fair pay.

The owners of Forever 21 should contribute to whatever causes they like privately instead of using their corporation to further a personal belief. Not everyone appreciates these biblical inscriptions and it's a major oversight that they assume that it's appropriate to alienate their shoppers in this way. John 3:16 basically states that non-Christians are damned to hell...I'm an atheist and this infuriates me.

I will continue to boycott this company and their cheap clothes. I encourage my friends to avoid buying things from Forever 21...if you want better "fast fashion" at the same price point, I would suggest shopping at H&M. They have better designs with an urban edge as opposed to Forever 21 which basically produces sluttier versions of current trends.

[Practicing Idealist]

I'm glad to know when I patronize a business where their profits go; Forever21's proselytizing bags alerted me to the fact that it's not the type of business I'd care to support, and I've no plans to ever shop there after my one and only time in the store. They're free to hold their own views, but I don't desire to be an accomplice in enabling them to spread untruth. I've had enough of evangelicals forcing their views on others and then crying that *they* are the supposedly persecuted members of this society. Not even all Christians subscribe to their sort of dogmatism. I just take the little "John 3:16" on the bottom of the bag as a disclaimer that you're not only buying clothes there; you're also buying into a very large industry that perpetuates the salvation myth.

[jesusfreak]

IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, DON'T SHOP THERE!!!!! I don't think you should be mad at them for advertizing their faith, you obviously don't have a problem with advertizing your hatrid toward God, I think your the hypocrits here not Forever 21!!! I love to shop there and the quality is pretty good! I love the fact that they have the verse "John 3:16" on the bottom of the bag. Personally I think that they should put the verse on the front of the bag instead of the bottom so then everyone see's it.

[A Individual]

How many ways can u make a tshirt? how many different ways can u print it? How many cuts? clearly only so much, there are many stores, many retailers. of course they would look alike.

[Dante]

Does anyone know that we pay a tax on most of the pre-packaged food we buy to jewish rabbis for kosher certification? Does that bother you? Look for a "K" or a "U" with a circle around it. 99% of what's in our stores has a jewish religious stamp of approval on it.Think a rabbi flew out to the manufacturer and blessed it for free? The cost gets passed on to us. Does it offend you? Is a bible reference costing you more money? Wake up, people.

[jac]

i don't see whats so wrong about a company that expresses what they believe in on their merchandise. it is, after all, their own company. it isn't any different than other companies that support a cause, express it, and then donate a percentage of their profits to a charity. just because Christianity is something that you may not personally believe in does not make it wrong for someone to support it if they do.

[Megan]

i ThiNk iT iS a GrEaT tHiNg tHaT JoHn 3:16 iS pRiNtEd oN tHe bOtToM oF tHe BaG. iN mY oPiNiOn iT sHouLd bE oN tHe FrOnT oF tHe BaG! KuDoS tO tHe FoReVeR 21 FoUnDeR fOr DoiNg ThAt!

[lacy]

Actually, I find it ironic that F21 has been using sweatshop labor in Los Angeles in awful conditions, but proclaim to be good christians. I also find it strange that all you atheists proclaim your beliefs loudly but protest the printing of a religious reference on the bottom of a shopping bag. Lighten up and fight against real issues, like the slave labor conditions F21 uses to make their clothes. You might think it is as easy as not shopping there, but it isn't. If they lose business, they cut the already low wages of their workers. So don't take the easy route and actually do something meaningful to change the world we live in.

[Salome]

I LOVE HOW THEY EXPRESS THEIR BELIEVES...HOW IS IT THAT NOONE TALKS ABOUT THOSE "BAD RELIGION" SHIRTS HUH..WHY ARE PEOPLE ALWAYS UPSET ABOUT PEOPLE'S EXPRESSION OF FAITH BUT THEY COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT THEIR EXPRESSION OF THEIR LACK OF FAITH AND THEY OBVIOUSLY DO IT TO BE OFFENSIVE!!!

[kat]

If they are Christians why do they use slave labor?