From Reality TV...to reality

By: Leonie Barrie - 11 April 2006 16:23

Reality TV shows are often required to pixelate recognisable logos and artwork on clothing to avoid trademark violations. So what a great idea to eliminate this post-production step and launch a clothing line with the artwork already obscured. But what started out as an internet joke from blogger David Friedman has turned into an overnight hit, selling hundreds of shirts within weeks and garnering international attention.

“In the first two days, I sold 75 shirts,” he says. Friedman's post was linked to from the websites of MSNBC, USA Today, Wired, CNet, Entertainment Weekly, the Boston Globe, and dozens of other blogs. “I was seriously shocked. I thought people might get a laugh and pass the link along if they liked the idea, but they were actually buying shirts.” Just goes to show the power of the web.