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Demand for RBG-Themed Merch Soars

Consumers who admire the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg are flocking to online shops to purchase merchandise featuring her likeness.

For many, the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a groundbreaking cultural icon.

Ruth Bader Ginsberg

The late Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Following her passing on Friday, Sept. 18 from metastatic pancreatic cancer, there’s been demand for merchandise branded with Ginsburg’s likeness and/or messaging that represents values for which she stood, such as equality, women’s rights and much more.

Online retailers that include Redbubble, Etsy, Amazon, Teespring and others are featuring an array of RBG-branded products from third-party creators. Items range from T-shirts, sweatshirts, socks and jewelry to stickers, mugs, headwear and, this being the age of COVID-19, face masks.

Face mask

This Ruth Bader Ginsburg face mask was available on Etsy from PeterThiessenShop.

Some have criticized the merch creators of profiting off Ginsburg’s death. Still, consumer demand appears to be spurring the merch creation – with many wanting to celebrate a leader they respected and admired. Etsy seller Jane E. Palmer commented on Twitter that demand for Ginsburg masks was soaring.

Some of the merch on offer had a playful aspect. Known for her toughness in support of issues she cared about, Ginsburg acquired the affectionate nickname of “Notorious RBG” in the pop culture lexicon. It references rapper Notorious B.I.G., known for his toughness. Merch abounded with references to “Notorious RBG.”

shirt

Available on Teespring, this T-shirt references the pop culture nickname Ginsburg earned in her later years – the “Notorious RBG.”

Ginsburg is viewed by many as a feminist icon, in particular. There was merch that referenced that legacy.

shirt

This feminist-themed T-shirt was available on Etsy.

Ginsburg was also known for standing strong for values/issues that she supported, even if she was in the minority opinion. There was merch, like the mug below, that celebrated that.

mug

This ‘I Dissent’ mug celebrating Ginsburg was on Redbubble.

Beyond merch, artists were also creating artworks in honor of Ginsburg.

View this post on Instagram

Notorious RBG. May she Rest In Peace. (Now listed in the webshop)

A post shared by Natoya Ellis (@natoyaellisart) on Sep 19, 2020 at 9:16pm PDT