A South Carolina jewelry company is facing backlash after creating jewelry from materials found at protests and naming them after victims of police brutality.
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The company named Shan Shui released the “Wear Their Names” collection amid the unrest and protests after the death of George Floyd as reported by the Charleston Scene. Founders Paul Chemis and Jing Wen said during the interview that they were inspired by the riots on King Street and used the glass from broken windows to create different pieces. Wen said, “We’re inspired by the social landscape, the ebb, and flow of things, the way things work together.”
However, their interview caught the attention of Black Twitter after the pieces were named after Tamir Rice, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Elijah McClain, Eric Holder, and other victims of police brutality. The founders were accused of profiting off of the trauma and pain of the black community.
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just when we thought it couldn’t get ANY worse… pic.twitter.com/iGm7423PeI
— sophie the cat lady (@sophieming_) September 8, 2020
This is absolutely disgusting and the owners ought to be ashamed. Profiting of the deaths and struggles of black people like this? I mean…what’s new? But these people are Vultures https://t.co/SYjXjxLgGw
— Steph (@StephanieYeboah) September 9, 2020
uhm…we apply prices to black pain now??? outrageous prices??? we try to profit off the tragedy of living in america while black now?? straight to hell https://t.co/IOFOL7enuW
— Angeleck (@rangieee) September 9, 2020
stop fucking profiting over people’s tragedies. https://t.co/doyHodjh90
— cami 🍓 (@cxmilxrodriguez) September 9, 2020
Fuck people like this. What else do you call them but vultures? Monetizing Black death, Going after the protests to scavenge pieces of glass you can flip for 100s of dollars. The sky is falling but for some people this is just a movie. https://t.co/YUvW6LfjP9
— Anansi (@Anansi1312) September 9, 2020
Some Twitter users also suggested the families should sue the company for profiting off of their loved ones’ death and using their name for profits.
Oh no! Shan Shui Studio’s site went down, where can I get my tone deaf performative activist jewelry now?
Lol. Stay closed you petty bourgeois pieces of shit. https://t.co/Ps5n5NeJwM pic.twitter.com/MNWm1Np7zc— dotori-muk (도토리묵) (@Pixelxilla) September 9, 2020
Shan shui Jewelry claims their intent was “pure and in good faith”. If so, they wouldn’t have shut down and turned off the comments and face the feedback of the clownery they pulled. #BlackLivesMatter
— S8Ns Baby💕 (@meilingadelle) September 9, 2020
In light of recent discussions, The Gibbes Museum Store is halting the upcoming sale of Shan Shui’s “Wear Their Names” jewelry line. The feedback from our community was appreciated. We apologize to anyone who was hurt and will continue to listen and learn. https://t.co/NY2RezMP5M
— Gibbes Museum of Art (@theGibbesmuseum) September 4, 2020
A statement has yet to be released from the company and its owners. Socialites, share your thoughts on this situation in the Yappa comment box below!