Vineyard Vines - Wow, haven't seen such a white catalog in years

[Anonymous]

I'm a 44 year old mom of two who doesn't shop for clothing that much and I don't keep up on styles and brands. My nephew's birthday was last month and I asked for ideas for him. I was told that he's really into clothing from Vineyard Vines...there's a store in Georgetown so I headed on down there. First, it is a lovely store and it reminded me that everything just comes around again because all the little whale crap was prevalent when I was a kid and "preppy" was a thing. So, I pick up their catalog and go through page by page. Not a single minority face in the whole 30 or 40 page spread. Not one. Completely turned me off to the company and brand. One purpose of a clothing brand's catalog is to visually send a message of who they see as their audience and they clearly don't want people with dark skin buying their overpriced stuff. Well I have light skin but I ain't buyin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a 44 year old mom of two who doesn't shop for clothing that much and I don't keep up on styles and brands. My nephew's birthday was last month and I asked for ideas for him. I was told that he's really into clothing from Vineyard Vines...there's a store in Georgetown so I headed on down there. First, it is a lovely store and it reminded me that everything just comes around again because all the little whale crap was prevalent when I was a kid and "preppy" was a thing. So, I pick up their catalog and go through page by page. Not a single minority face in the whole 30 or 40 page spread. Not one. Completely turned me off to the company and brand. One purpose of a clothing brand's catalog is to visually send a message of who they see as their audience and they clearly don't want people with dark skin buying their overpriced stuff. Well I have light skin but I ain't buyin.

Okay.

[Anonymous]

Is it really shocking that Vineyard Vines is the whitest clothing brand around?

[Anonymous]

Seems really odd to have no minorities. It's 2015. OP, why don't you write a letter to the company and complain? I'd be interested to hear their response.

[Anonymous]

I think they ask many of their customers to send in photos to use in the catalog. That could account for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems really odd to have no minorities. It's 2015. OP, why don't you write a letter to the company and complain? I'd be interested to hear their response.

I did. I'll post if they respond.

[Anonymous]

Umm, maybe they know their market better than you do?

[Anonymous]

That's odd, they used to include minorities in their catalogs a few years ago. They had a pretty decent Caribbean following but I guess that's fallen off.

I don't shop there anymore but I have a few pieces I still like, might be time to retire them. I always think it's foolish when companies choose to ignore diversity in their marketing. Minorities account for huge spending blocks so it's got to be a deliberate move. Oh well :-/

[Anonymous]

When I look at a catalog, I don't count the races. That's stupid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a 44 year old mom of two who doesn't shop for clothing that much and I don't keep up on styles and brands. My nephew's birthday was last month and I asked for ideas for him. I was told that he's really into clothing from Vineyard Vines...there's a store in Georgetown so I headed on down there. First, it is a lovely store and it reminded me that everything just comes around again because all the little whale crap was prevalent when I was a kid and "preppy" was a thing. So, I pick up their catalog and go through page by page. Not a single minority face in the whole 30 or 40 page spread. Not one. Completely turned me off to the company and brand. One purpose of a clothing brand's catalog is to visually send a message of who they see as their audience and they clearly don't want people with dark skin buying their overpriced stuff. Well I have light skin but I ain't buyin.

Oh noes a person looking for reasons to be offended. You know on the road most people drive white cars, I offended and that's rasist . I should contact all the car companies and tell them to sell more black cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I look at a catalog, I don't count the races. That's stupid

I don't count - but there are environments that it is really visible. Hanna Andersen catalogs used to be all white.

We attend a VERY diverse public school and my children have called out the lack of diversity of our church.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I look at a catalog, I don't count the races. That's stupid

NP - I do. I'm a white woman. And it affects where I shop. VV wouldn't be getting a purchase from me.

[Anonymous]

I think the models are their employees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I look at a catalog, I don't count the races. That's stupid

NP - I do. I'm a white woman. And it affects where I shop. VV wouldn't be getting a purchase from me.

Another white woman here and I too look and it would effect my shopping habits as well. Maybe you are the stupid one for not looking at something like the this. I hope Op will post an answer if she receives one from the company.

[Anonymous]

They don't market to minorities, because they don't want socially ambitious AAs deciding that Vineyard Vines is a status brand. That will make their brand VERY fashionable for a few years, but turn off their core market. Then the fashion will change and they will be a worn out brand who is no longer fashionable and whose core market gave up on them.