The Bummer Shop is a small American business founded during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Forced to stay at home, its founder Madison Sinclair had a newfound interest for lounge wear, including extra short, body hugging and comfortable shorts, otherwise known as booty shorts. Yet, Sinclair found herself not liking the idea of purchasing most booty shorts found in the market. These shorts would often feature lewd and sexist messages of poor taste written on their backside.
Hence, Sinclair started her own shorts company, one where she can write educational and awareness raising facts on its hind. So The Bummer Shop was born, producing shorts with backsides that cover a wide range of topics, everything from politics, to economics, health and even religious freedom. The idea is that these shorts will help people understand and memorize these facts easily as they would be eye-catchingly plastered on someone's hind. This is why the work that The Bummer Shop does is relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Quality Education and Reduced Inequalities.
When it comes to the socio-political issues that the shorts cover, The Bummer Short does not stop at awareness raising. One short, which spells out “Abortion is safer than Tylenol” sees its sales proceeds being donated to independent women’s clinics that tirelessly work to provide safe and affordable abortion for people in the United States. These shorts were made at the advent of crackdowns against abortion providers across the country, as anti-abortion groups have been emboldened by the inauguration of President Donald Trump who has supported anti-abortion rhetorics over the years.
The Bummer Shop transforms everyday loungewear into a platform for education and activism, using humor and bold design to spark conversations about important social issues. By replacing outdated and sexist messaging with thought-provoking facts, the brand challenges norms and encourages awareness in a fun, unconventional way. Beyond raising awareness, The Bummer Shop actively supports causes like reproductive rights, reinforcing its commitment to social justice. Through its innovative approach, the brand proves that even something as simple as booty shorts can be a tool for change.
Find out more about The Bummer Shop and their initiatives by checking their website www.thebummershop.com or Instagram @thebummershop.