Kid Fashions Have a Cult Following

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gwen

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:41 am

Kid Fashions Have a Cult Following

Posted Jul 2nd 2008 11:27AM by TMZ Staff

Just because your kids don't belong to a polygamous religious sect, doesn't mean they can't dress like they do!

http://www.fldsdress.com/index.php

Now that they've had their children of the corn returned to them by the government, members of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints have created an online shop so all kids can wear creepy Laura Ingalls-esque, polyester uniforms. Perfect gifts for a teen bride readying for her first, second or third marriage!

The unisex site features everything any wannabe homeschooled, inbred, God-fearing child could need to fit in at Walnut Grove Elementary. All items -- from Pilgrim dresses to overalls -- meet "the FLDS standards for modesty and neatness." The devil wears long underwear!

AKA Gagal_05

Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 15244

gwen

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:01 am

FLDS fashions for kids sold on enterprising Web site
Mothers say Texas raid forced them to market their clothing style
By Brooke Adams

The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 06/30/2008 08:47:40 AM MDT

ELDORADO, Texas - A new clothing brand may be born out of the Texas raid on a polygamous sect.

FLDS women for the first time are offering their handmade, distinctive style of children's clothes to the public through the Web site fldsdress.com.

Launched initially to provide Texas authorities with clothing for FLDS children in custody, the online store now is aimed at helping their mothers earn a living.

The venture, which has already drawn queries from throughout the U.S., is banking on interest in modest clothes, curiosity and charity to be a success.

"We don't know what to expect on demand A rack of pastel colored dresses hang in the sewing facility on the YFZ ranch in Texas. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune)but we have had a flood of interest," said Maggie Jessop, a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. "Our motive is not to flaunt ourselves or our religion before the world. We have to make a living the same as everyone does."

The initial Web site featured only photographs of clothes because the children were still in state custody. Now those are being replaced with photographs of smiling, beatific FLDS children modeling the fashions.

The sect is offering dresses, overalls, shirts, pants, nightgowns, sleepers, onesies for babies and, yes, ankle-to-wrist underwear. There are denim jeans for boys and "teen princess" dresses in plain, jacket and vest styles in pastel shades of pink, peach, yellow, green, aqua, blue, lavender and lilac. The dresses sell for $35.65. Women's apparel could be added if demand arises.

Jessop says Texas Child Protective Services was the inspiration for the enterprise.

The department took custody of 440 children from the sect's Yearning for Zion Ranch in early April and eventually placed them in shelters throughout Texas, where they were expected to stay for up to a year.

Most children had only a few changes of clothes - long dresses for girls and pants and long-sleeved shirts for boys, covering long underwear.

"Some children had only the shirt on their backs, literally," Jessop said.

By late April, some children had been told to stop using their unique underwear, and clothing was getting mixed up and lost on laundry days. That added to the pressure, Jessop said, to have the children don "gentile" - regular - clothes.

But the mothers resisted.

"We said, 'These are our children and this is the way we've chosen to dress them,'" Jessop said. "No way, no way."

When CPS said there was no place to buy clothing that met the sect's dress code, the mothers had an answer.

"We said, 'Yes you can. You can buy them from us,'" Jessop said.

With their children gone, many mothers had idle hands, empty hours and a need to support themselves.

"We had to look at what we can do," Jessop said, since the state was "trying to ruin us, almost putting us in a beggar state."

"They accuse us of [relying] on welfare, but that's untrue," she said. "We like to be busy and learn to meet our needs - out of ashes growing lilies."

Cynthia Martinez, a spokeswoman for Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, said that many of the 48 mothers her firm represents face financial challenges that didn't exist when they lived at the ranch in a communal lifestyle.

"Now they are renting homes and apartments and have to figure out how to pay for that," she said.

Although the children are back with their parents, legal counsel advised many FLDS mothers to stay away from the ranch until the CPS investigation and action is over. The sewing enterprise allows the mothers to care for their children and support themselves.

Sewing expertise is widespread in the community. The women have long made the community's clothes. And for many years, the FLDS operated a contract sewing business in the adjoining towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz. Called Barco, it made such things as uniforms.

Other contract sewing operations flourished, too, said Jessop, who for 20 years ran her own sewing business in Sandy and, later, in Hildale.

In Texas, the women have fallen back on the familiar.

The enterprise was under way when two Texas courts ordered the state to return the children to their FLDS parents in early June.

But the need to support themselves continues, so it is full press ahead.

The Web site, sprinkled with scriptural sayings, describes the clothes as meeting FLDS standards for "modesty and neatness" and as being made with "joy and care."

"This is not about Wal-Mart quality," Jessop said. "The clothes are washable, durable and children proof."

Often described as a "prairie-style" way of dressing in the media, the uniform FLDS fashion has been targeted by critics and cult experts who considered it an example of brainwashing within the sect.

The style became widely followed under current prophet Warren S. Jeffs. But sect members defend it as an outward reflection of their values that actually began roughly a decade ago.

The transition was gradual, Jessop said.

Women wore out dresses that featured floral and gingham prints, flounces and frills, and replaced them with the plain, simple styles seen today.

Jessop said the clothing preference is based on Biblical and Mormon scriptural references and a desire to apply those dictates more deeply to their lives.

"I really like wearing plain clothes," she said, because it is part of being able to "focus on doing things for others rather than on seeing how darling I can look."

Late last week, there were only three women working in what was once a bustling sewing factory at the YFZ Ranch. One was putting together bags of pre-cut fabric that would be sent to women scattered around Texas to assemble in their homes. Two others were piecing together dresses at two of the 30-plus sewing machines.

Currently, about 10 to 20 women are involved in the fledgling business, but more will join if demand grows, Jessop said. Income will be shared among all the mothers.

And more enterprising efforts are in the works: The group plans to launch a site offering FLDS-made crafts in coming weeks. It will feature CDs of members like Jessop singing songs for children, children's books written and illustrated by FLDS members and cookie and recipe books.

"Since the State of Texas has taken our support system, we can do the best we can to make up the difference," Jessop said.

brooke@sltrib.com

AKA Gagal_05

Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 15244

Topsider

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:56 am

I wonder if they make women's plus size clothing, I have this aunt who might be interested. All she ever wears are those moo moo dresses

Joined: 08 Dec 2007
Posts: 2206
Location: On Hiatus Beach

Topsider

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:41 pm

Re: Kid Fashions Have a Cult Following

gwen wrote:

Posted Jul 2nd 2008 11:27AM by TMZ Staff

Just because your kids don't belong to a polygamous religious sect, doesn't mean they can't dress like they do!

Joined: 08 Dec 2007
Posts: 2206
Location: On Hiatus Beach

diandra

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:55 am

perhaps this clothing line will gain popularity
as hallowe'en nears

(meow)

Joined: 24 Mar 2006
Posts: 84

PerryPeabody

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:11 am

diandra wrote:

perhaps this clothing line will gain popularity
as hallowe'en nears

(meow)

I thought the same thing. Laughing

Also, diandra, I wanted to thank you for all of the really useful information you post.

Joined: 24 Mar 2006
Posts: 1137

tulsad

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:42 pm

Topsider wrote:

I wonder if they make women's plus size clothing, I have this aunt who might be interested. All she ever wears are those moo moo dresses

Modesty and neatness beats moo-moos every time. Very Happy

Maybe she can get some of those fancy knickers, too. Cool

Sparkly Tree

Joined: 19 Aug 2006
Posts: 10139

tulsad

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:44 pm

PerryPeabody wrote:

I thought the same thing. Laughing

Also, diandra, I wanted to thank you for all of the really useful information you post.

Yes, thank you, diandra - you've sharing some fascinating "insider" information based on your knowledge of LDS faith, as well as what you've learned about the FLDS. Your explanations have really helped.

Sparkly Tree

Joined: 19 Aug 2006
Posts: 10139

diandra

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 1:57 am

diandra wrote:

perhaps this clothing line will gain popularity
as hallowe'en nears

(meow)

PerryPeabody wrote:

I thought the same thing. Laughing

Also, diandra, I wanted to thank you for all of the really useful information you post.

tulsad wrote:

Yes, thank you, diandra - you've shared some fascinating "insider" information based on your knowledge of LDS faith, as well as what you've learned about the FLDS. Your explanations have really helped.

speaking only for myself,
I find the entire concept repelling and fascinating
at the same time

check this out ...
tonight I was sitting w/ some folks
watching the fireworks,
and we were talking about the fashion line

I said: I was thinking about hallowe'en ...
and three young moms said: OMG, yes!

I'm such an instigator, LOL

Wink

Joined: 24 Mar 2006
Posts: 84

Torti

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:26 pm

Sewing expertise is widespread in the community. The women have long made the community's clothes. And for many years, the FLDS operated a contract sewing business in the adjoining towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz. Called Barco, it made such things as uniforms.

Interesting. I worked in "hospital whites" in the 1960's and my preferred brand of uniform was Barco. Very good product, good fabrics, good fit, not skimpy, excellent workmanship, outwore other brands.

Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 179

Black-Tulip

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:51 pm

Reactions to the FLDS apparel website have been mixed:

The FLDS clothes are the ugliest uniforms I have ever witnessed on this planet. To tell the truth, Star Trek has a better clothing outlet.
The prices are far too low for the quality of the outfits. The fancy girl dresses would be perfect for a wedding.
I wouldn't even be buried or cremated in such a dress. The price should be even lower than what it is ... like free for the homeless.
I think the clothing is very nice, and Made in the USA is a bonus! I fail to see any reason to criticize someone for dressing modestly. Good job FLDS!

Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 5585

Topsider

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:54 pm

Wonder why the men haven't provided for the women and children? They took care of them down on the farm. But now the women have to open up a clothing store? Maybe Willie J can answer. Wonder if his wife has to make and sell clothes to get by

Joined: 08 Dec 2007
Posts: 2206
Location: On Hiatus Beach

Black-Tulip

Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:11 am

You've never seen an FLDS scarecrow before, have you?

Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 5585

Topsider

Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:34 am

OMG!

What the hell is that? Laughing

Joined: 08 Dec 2007
Posts: 2206
Location: On Hiatus Beach

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