Firefighter, police new fashion role models in New York

NEW YORK: Move over DKNY. Here comes FDNY. In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, items carrying the FDNY as well as NYPD logos of the New York Fire and Police Departments are being snapped up at street stands.

In a sure sign that the fashion trend has arrived, counterfeiters are quickly stitching unauthorized initials onto caps and jackets to cash in on the demand. ‘‘ With this NYPD cap I am representing America,’’ said Louis Marrero, 28, a resident of Bronx borough after buying his cap from a street vendor in Times Square.

Sales of police and firefighting T-shirts, caps, and jackets show no signs of slowing even as fashion sales at department stores are feeling the effects of a slowing economy. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, other government officials and Hollywood stars like Bruce Willis have also popularized FDNY and NYPD caps or jackets in solidarity with hundreds of fallen firefighters and officers. Now the trend is a spontaneous outpouring by consumers.

‘‘All I’m buying for my nephew this Halloween is an FDNY sweater. He loves the firefighters even more now,’’ said one of the many shoppers at the Fire Zone.

Much of what’s being purchased on the streets, however, is unauthorized. The FDNY Fire Zone, which sells official fire department gear, said its sales of firefighting apparel have already surpassed those normally seen around Christmas since the attacks. But the store has also noticed the counterfeit goods being sold just outside its doors in Midtown Manhattan and it wants to put a stop to this.

Spokesperson for the Fire Department Mary Weitzman said it would be seeking an immediate court order to bar hundreds of unauthorized vendors that are now hawking ‘‘fake’’ FDNY merchandise. The year-old store is the only official retailer of merchandise from the FDNY.
(Reuters)