An argument over a line of “designer drug” t-shirts sold in Kitson’s West Hollywood store now has progressed to a lawsuit.
Business Insurance reports that AbbVie Inc., the maker of Vicodin, has filed suit in U.S. District Court, asking that Kitson be barred from selling shirts emblazoned with the word Vicodin. Kitson’s designer drug line also includes pop culture shirts labeled Adderall and Xanax. The shirts were designed by Brian Lichtenberg, an LA clothing designer who has created outfits worn by Lady Gaga. They retail for $58 for a short sleeve version and $98 for a long sleeve version.
Representatives of Pfizer, the maker of Xanax, and Shire, the original manufacturer of Adderall, which now is available as a generic amphetamine salt, have also said they are considering filing suit.
In its lawsuit, AbbVie Inc. says the use of the word “Vicodin” violates its trademark. The Chicago drug manufacturer also says the designs suggest that “popping Vicodin is a cool, ‘in’ thing to do.” Kitson, which is headquartered at 115 S. Robertson Blvd. in Los Angeles, maintains a flagship store in West Hollywood at 8590 Melrose Ave. near Westbourne in whose window it has posted the slogan “Just What the Doctor Ordered.”
“The public is being immeasurably harmed,” AbbieVie argues. “This harm is especially acute for those influenced by fashion trends promoted through trendsetting retailers like Kitson.”
The “designer drug” shirts have been criticized by the Medicine Abuse Project and the Partnership at Drug Free America. The Partnership has posted on its website a request for shoppers to boycott Kitson. The site is particularly critical of Kitson for offering a free copy of “Guts,” a book by actor Kristen Johnston about her struggle with addiction, to those who buy one of the “designer drug” shirts. The Partnership also has disavowed any agreement to accept a donation from Kitson to its Medicine Abuse Project, which Kitson had announced when the criticism first surfaced this summer. AbbVie says it will donate any monetary award to programs focused on prescription drug abuse.
Kitson has pushed back against criticism of its “designer drug” shirts. On its website it calls on its fans to boycott NBC’s Today Show, contending that a segment that criticized the Kitson shirts was unfair because it didn’t feature comment from Kitson. “Dialogue is prevention, and Kitson’s merchandise is creating dialogue,” the company says.
Kitson also responded to calls from the attorneys general in Florida, Kentucky and Maine to remove the shirts with a statement saying “the t shirts are simply a mirror of what is occurring in our culture, not a glamorization of it as alleged. Perhaps more discussion about those whose behavior truly contributes to the deaths every 19 minutes from prescription drugs, those providing the opportunity for prescription drugs to fall into the hands of our youth, and those flooding the market with the ads, would be more pertinent and impactful.
“Kitson is willing to cease the sale of the t shirts in question if television networks agree to discontinue accepting ad revenue from prescription drug companies.”
They should be able to sell shirts with whatever they want on them, but they are super tacky and send a bad message.
Thank you Jimmy. Michael, are you on Kitson’s payroll? Do you REALLY believe they are selling those shirts to create to create awareness about a problem? Theirs is a cynical, greedy act. You will never convince me otherwise.
Glamorizing a drug that is one of the most abused in this country as a piece of fashion is reprehensible. THE END.
Bill, I understand the pain of the loss of your loved one. It is clear that awareness of the danger of prescription drugs does help with prevention. Instead of dividing, we should work together toward awareness. Whether or not you care for the t-shirts, you cannot dispute that they have brought awareness to the issue. When I first saw the shirts, I had a negative reaction, but having spoken to some members of the Kitson team through my business, I have a lot more insight into just how big a problem this is. I had really never given it much… Read more »
Tina: We probably should avoid pushing people into traffic, especially drug traffic. That’s the kind of pushing Kitson is doing. When you’ve lost a child to addiction, perhaps you’ll understand a little better why this “parody” is so vile and tasteless. Read what I wrote here and you’ll get a better sense of why people are upset about your beloved Kitson. http://bit.ly/17GSlO6 Or, for a sharper tongued “parody” on the same topic you can go here: http://bit.ly/19dGxPe As for me, I promise not to push any Kitson customers into traffic. But I’ll do my damnedest to turn the Kitson store… Read more »
Kitson monitors these stories like hawks, and “Tina” most likely works for them. This company’s marketing propaganda is a joke. Many of the retorts to Ms. Johnston were written with the grammar and verbiage similar to an 8-year-old child’s. Get a clue, Tina. I would gladly push any and all customers choosing to wear this type of clothing into traffic as well, and I’m sure a great many others would do the same.
yes, i do feel johnston should be interviewed. as i already stated, i saw this whole thing go down on twitter and it was gross.
Wow Tina – how you figure the t-shirt a parody beats me. But
I do think the issue should be trademark/copyright infringement – Vicodin is a brand name. Hydrocodone isn’t, so why not just print up some of those and let them sell what they want. And FE*Y – (*everyones) the amount of aceta in the “new” Vicodin and generics has been greatly reduced – not the amount of narcotic. As far as being able to sell what they want – why not narcotics – there is a huge profit in it.
To Barbara
You think Kristen Johnston should be interviewed? If you recall she is the one who wanted to push Kitson’s customers into oncoming traffic. Kristen Johnston mentioned she wrote her book Guts because she was broke. She made money by writing about drug addition. Why should Kitson be excoriated for selling a parody t-shirt? They should be able to sell what they want.
It occurs to me that the ingredient most harmful in Vicodin is the acetaminophen that is known and has been known for some time to cause massive liver failure – so while I am sure this shirt sends a very negative message to potential dope fiends – they would be smarter to avoid the product it mentions and find a less harmful way to get high.
And yes – my experience (once) with Kitson was very vile. I can only imagine their demographic is bulletproof or unconscious. I am neither.
this is a homogenized version of what went on. kitson was vile. you might want to interview kristen johnston about this. i watched the whole thing unfold on twitter. it was disgusting.