Edgy design crossing the line

There is a lot of speculation about Urban Outfitters' latest t-shirt - did they knowingly invoke the symbol used or was it an uninformed mistake.  The design on the front of the t-shirt resembles the gang symbol for Chicago based Gangster Disciples.  According to the Daily Mail this is definitely not a gang you would want to cross swords with.

The t-shirt was designed by Australian brand Vanguard.  It would have been perfectly normal to expect Vanguard to go into overdrive in order to stem the negative publicity.  However, in typical laid back Australian style the reaction of director of Vanguard, Jono Cottee, to this whole debacle is quoted by Pedestrian tv:

“It is a pretty widely used symbol, I thought. I thought Raphael the Ninja Turtle carried one around in his shell.   I am not up to date on my 'Chicago Underbelly' series 4 I guess. For us it was more of a trident/satan reference if anything.”

At least Cottee's statement clears up the speculation.  Personally I am not impressed with this statement.  It indicates a lack of understanding of global markets.  Just because a symbol does not have a specific meaning in Australia, one cannot simply assume that it would not carry a meaning in America.  This comment also indicates that Cottee does not fully understand the impact of wearing such a t-shirt in Chicago would have.

IM FROM CHICAGO. YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE STUPID TO BE WALKING IN THE STREETS WITH THIS ON. ITS LIKE SAYING " HEY IM WITH THIS GANG COME KILL ME"

(Comment from Nina - Daily Mail)