Affliction Land

by Zak Woods on Mar 19, 2009 12:00 PM EDT in Off Topic Comment 9 comments

It is a slow week around the intrawebs and MMA-blogosphere so I figured I would offer some observations about the fashion world of MMA.

Two weeks ago I was in a bar with a friend, meeting some people from his work. One of the gentlemen had an Affliction shirt. Since UFC 96 was just a week away I started up a conversation about MMA and the UFC. The gentlemen responded with a "dude, what the fuck are you talking about?"

I responded, "Well you are wearing an Affliction shirt so I thought you know about MMA."

He looks at me puzzled, "what's Affliction?"

I point to his shirt and say, "your shirt, it's an Affliction shirt. They are kind of big in MMA and the UFC."

"Oh, you mean like Ultimate Fighting?"

"Yeah" I shrugged in defeat.

"I just got this thing at Buckle, I didn't know what it was about. "

I wish this was a rare occasion but it has happened to me several times (maybe I should stop trying to have random MMA conversations). I thought I had found a common topic in order to break the ice of a work get together and instead I got shopping instructions.

A week later UFC 96 finally came to Columbus and I was shocked at how many people were wearing Affliction shirts. They vastly outnumbered any other brands during the nightlife. This got me thinking about Affliction's new role within our culture and how it is taking on a different meaning within other athletic circles. LaMarr Woodley of the Pittsburgh Steelers was seen wearing an Affliction shirt on Rome is Burning. Basketball players and rappers are now seen regularly in Affliction threads. Indeed the brand has taken on its own identity within hip-hop culture.

However it could still end up like Crocs or another clothing fad liek acid wasehd jeans. Those ar back in style again right?

Yesterday I was at the mall and decided to explore this 'Buckle' for myself. I walk into the store and there's a display of Affliction shirts all priced in the fifty dollar range.

Finding this an affront to my wallet I started bowsing through what I thought was the on-sale rack. It actually ended up being a different designer and brand that was being passed off as Afflicition.

Now this shirt (the yellow one) is ridiculous to even the most garish person, especially at its price of $121

At first I thought this was designed by a Project Runway winner (I have a girlfriend and sometimes you have to watch these shows to get laid). But after some careful research (read as wikipedia) I found out that it was in fact desgined by a Frenchman named, Christian Audiger. Shocking I know.

It sucks that French designers are cashing in by having these shirts cost over a hunddred bucks. It's even worse when you consider that these T-shirts will probably be the best known legacy of MMA from this decade.

Realizing this I left the mall in total disgust, but not before I saw an Xtreme Couture shirt in a tuxedo rental display case. What is the world coming to?

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Interesting side note, Christian Audiger is looking into getting into the MMA clothing business. His Ed Hardy t-shirts usually sell in the $100-$200 range. They are at a different price range than Affliction, whose most expensive t-shirts I’ve seen topped out in the mid $80 range.

I’m into designer clothing for both work and casual so I do own some of this stuff. Most expensive is an Ed Hardy t-shirt with a bulldog wearing an army helmut that was like $200. But c’mon, it’s a a bulldog wearing an army helmut. How cool is that?

by Steve W on Mar 19, 2009 12:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

not cool enough to waste $200 on something that makes less than $5 to make

by dumbwhiteguy on Mar 19, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I am all for sweet t-shirts and a bull dog wearing a helment sound like it but $200 seems a lil far fetched. Especially when I can wear by Franco’s Italian Army t-shirt. GO STEELERS!

watchkalibrun.com

by Zak Woods on Mar 19, 2009 1:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Exactly how full of yourself do you have to be to spend $200 on a t-shirt?

by nitro on Mar 19, 2009 11:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

BJ Penn totally spends $200 on a shirt

watchkalibrun.com

by Zak Woods on Mar 20, 2009 10:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And then files a complaint when he's too fat to wear it.

If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.

by Ozzz on Mar 21, 2009 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Am I alone in admitting I really hate MMA fashion?

I mean, I’m all for branded gear and an MMA them, but why do all MMA shirts have to have flaming skulls of death, giant slashes down the back or ring wire wrapping around them from head to toe?

I’d love a line of MMA gear I could wear without thinking like I’m either challenging any roid jerk to a fight, or demonstrating to a potential girlfriend that my dreams are filled with dragons, skulls, barbed wire and delusions of grandeur.

Gimme a simple logo on a smooth shirt that I can wear anywhere and I’ll drop an easy $30 without complaint.

If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.

by Ozzz on Mar 21, 2009 12:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes.. i have the exact same opinion..

its either chicks will think im lame for thinking skulls and dragons are so cool, or im challenging some random jerks to fight me.

give me a shirt that says something simple, like a logo, or a name, something like “LYOTO”.. thats it.. i’d buy that.. overpriced death skull shirts, no thanks..

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on Mar 21, 2009 3:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs