Senator John Fetterman is associated with hoodies, but lately his team has been putting a lot of thought into a different kind of clothing: the sassy T-shirt. After the Senate passed a dress code–a move inspired by Fetterman’s attire–his campaign started selling self-mocking shirts featuring jabs that had been lobbed at the lawmaker, from “disgraceful” (Marjorie Taylor Greene) to “revolting slob” (Monica Crowley). They also debuted a shirt emblazoned with “John Fetterman’s Body Double,” a reference to claims that an actor had been filling in for him.
The shirts–which were big sellers and got a lot of social-media attention–are the kind of sly response that Fetterman’s team has become known for. And the senator himself is in on it. When a campaign consultant mentioned the idea of a shirt with some critiques, he insisted any merch include “revolting slob.” “He had some stored away in his head,” says Michael Mikail, a consultant on the Fetterman campaign. “From his perspective, it was like, ‘The worse, the better.’ ”
The tees are part of a genre of apparel that reclaims disparaging statements–think nasty woman buttons. The tactic starts a conversation, but it serves a deeper purpose, says Michelle Howell, who helps run the Outrage, an activist retailer. “If it captures a hurdle that a group or community has experienced, people will show up to support that.”
This article appears in the November 2023 issue of Washingtonian.
The Story Behind John Fetterman’s Feisty T-Shirts
How “revolting slob” became a funny tee.
Senator John Fetterman is associated with hoodies, but lately his team has been putting a lot of thought into a different kind of clothing: the sassy T-shirt. After the Senate passed a dress code–a move inspired by Fetterman’s attire–his campaign started selling self-mocking shirts featuring jabs that had been lobbed at the lawmaker, from “disgraceful” (Marjorie Taylor Greene) to “revolting slob” (Monica Crowley). They also debuted a shirt emblazoned with “John Fetterman’s Body Double,” a reference to claims that an actor had been filling in for him.
The shirts–which were big sellers and got a lot of social-media attention–are the kind of sly response that Fetterman’s team has become known for. And the senator himself is in on it. When a campaign consultant mentioned the idea of a shirt with some critiques, he insisted any merch include “revolting slob.” “He had some stored away in his head,” says Michael Mikail, a consultant on the Fetterman campaign. “From his perspective, it was like, ‘The worse, the better.’ ”
The tees are part of a genre of apparel that reclaims disparaging statements–think nasty woman buttons. The tactic starts a conversation, but it serves a deeper purpose, says Michelle Howell, who helps run the Outrage, an activist retailer. “If it captures a hurdle that a group or community has experienced, people will show up to support that.”
This article appears in the November 2023 issue of Washingtonian.
Daniella Byck joined Washingtonian in 2022. She was previously with Outside Magazine and lives in Northeast DC.
Most Popular in News & Politics
What It Felt Like for a Virginia Marching Band to Win Metallica’s Contest
Meet the 2023 Washingtonians of the Year
What’s IN and OUT in DC Restaurant Trends for 2024
Introducing 8 of DC’s Most Stylish
Washingtonian Magazine
May 2024: Great Getaways
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
13 Major Concerts and Music Festivals in the DC Area This Spring
Mary Timony on Her Emotional New Album, “Untame the Tiger”
The Beatles in DC: A New Exhibit in Maryland Looks Back on Early Beatlemania
Northern Virginia High School Wins Metallica’s Marching Band Competition
More from News & Politics
A “Corpse Flower” Is Currently in Bloom at the Botanic Garden
How Emma’s Torch Is Changing the Lives of its Refugee Workers
Former Fiola GM Convicted of Murder Is Now in a Netflix Docuseries
These 5 DC Traffic Cams Are Issuing the Most Tickets Right Now
Farewell to Crystal City Underground, the DC Area’s Strangest Mall
Washington DC’s 500 Most Influential People of 2024
Inside the Urgent Effort to Preserve Black Newspapers
Maryland Has Renamed an Invasive Fish. Will It Matter?