The Wall Street Journal reports that businesses from WigSalon.com to Kazuo Kawasaki (the manufacturer of Mrs. Palin’s eyeglass frames) are benefiting from the Palin nomination. The wigs are flying off the shelves and the glasses frames orders have quadrupled. Kazuo Kawasaki has shifted to a 24-hour production schedule to keep up with demand. However, not all businesses want the sales Mrs. Palin’s style choices bring. Mrs. Palin once joked, when asked who her favorite designer was, “Patagonia.” Patagonia spokesperson Jenn Rapp said that the company had “absolutely no” intention to use the connection to promote sales, and added, “Patagonia’s environmental mission greatly differs from Sarah Palin’s. Just wearing the clothing of an environmental company does not necessarily make someone an environmentalist.” Milton Friedman said the primary responsibility of a business was to its owners and shareholders — to make money. Is Patagonia serving the interests of its owners well with its position? Does Patagonia risk alienating customers who like Mrs. Palin? What does a company do with politically charged and unsought attention? Steven Kolb, executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America said that he “couldn’t envision” the fashion industry offering any “design talents” to the Republican ticket. Wise business decision? Socially responsible decision? Where does politics fit in the discussion of ethics and social responsibility?Â
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Meta
the minute a business responds, the public automatically considers them a supporter of a candidate; be it glasses, hair or a fleece jacket. Even the comment made by Patagonia, regarding Palins environmental portfolio strikes a tone. I would suspect that there are plenty of Environmentalists that wear Patagonia .. but theres probably loggers, men on oil rigs, fisherman, and many Alaskans wearing it too. Their best bet would be to remain silent; no position either way. As far as the glasses and the wigs, I suppose they will jump on a band wagon to make a sale. and that type of fashion wanes. THese days everyone is so passionate about their candidate and its difficult not to be. So if a company shows the most simple encouragement one way or the other .. they’re marked; despised or loved, they’re marked.