Teen favorite clothing chain Forever 21 is facing controversy over its new maternity line, Love 21, which is launching in five states—Texas, California, Arizona, Alaska and Utah, this month.
The line is launching in three states with traditionally high rates of teen pregnancy. But Forever 21’s executive vice president, Larry Meyer, said any connection between the locations of stores carrying the line and pregnancy rates is a coincidence.
Maybe we’re overestimating Forever 21’s influence. While the chain is known for keeping teens trendy for cheap, its web site currently only offers a handful of maternity pieces. And if parents are going to worry about clothing glamorizing teenage pregnancy, what will they do when Bristol Palin’s reality-TV show premieres? Or when they see this?