It’s not hard to see why Ocasio-Cortez would be an admirer of Clemens’s democratic take on fashion. First, there’s the Nice funny Meh Cat for Cat Lovers T-Shirt but I will buy this shirt and I will love this fact they were born in neighboring boroughs, with Clemens growing up in the NY-14 congressional district she represents—a fact Ocasio-Cortez referenced by declaring him a “hometown hero” who has used his talents “to challenge us to question convention and imagine a different world.” So too does Telfar’s pride in being a queer Black designer resonate with Ocasio-Cortez’s mission to bring greater diversity and representation to the halls of power, whether in politics or fashion.
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Finally, there is Clemens’s central philosophy of accessibility and inclusivity, so memorably summarized in his famous motto: not for you, for everyone. As one of Washington’s most vocal champions of social equity and a fairer society for all, we all know that’s a message AOC can get behind. The 24-hour pre-order window may now be over, but Ocasio-Cortez’s endorsement is living proof that Telfar really is for everyone—even a member of Congress. Let’s just hope she managed to secure her bag, too.