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Do you know how the New Orleans Saints got the colors black & gold? The teams first majority owner, John Mecom, made his money in the oil industry and the colors symbolized the strong ties of both he and the city of New Orleans to the "black gold" industry.
Unfortunately, that "black gold" is now threatening our way of life here in Louisiana as millions of gallons of crude oil leak into the Gulf of Mexico. You've probably been watching this disaster unfold on television the past few weeks and, if you're like me, been wondering how you can help.
Yesterday, my staff and I here at the store brainstormed a way to do our part in the relief effort. We've come up with this design and will donate 20% of all sales to the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. Already being used as a symbol of the relief effort by local vendors such as jeweler Mignon Faget here in New Orleans, we've incorporated the black ribbon - also used as a symbol of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort in 2005 - into our design as a way for the wearer to show his/her support of what will inevitably be a lengthy clean-up process.
So if you like the shirt, like the idea or like both, click here to purchase one, or ten, and do your part. It is available as a regular t-shirt or on a unisex American Apparel V-neck and in a couple of different color combinations, though I figured the black and gold would be most appealing to this audience. If you are here in New Orleans, feel free to stop by the store and pick one up in person.
I apologize for filling this space with non-Saints related content but this is an important issue, not just for Louisiana and the other Gulf Coast states but for everyone in our country. If you've got any ideas or suggestions, please feel free to share them with us.