A brief overview of popular mall chain Hot Topic and the often controversial criticism that surrounds the store.
If you live in a large city, chances are the nearest mall has the popular american chain store Hot Topic. With over 600 stores across the United States and Puerto Rico, Hot Topic has taken the world by storm.
Since the store's inception in 1988 by Orv Madden, Hot Topic has made a living by catering to the alternative community.
Origin and Overview
The chain specializes in fashion and other merchandise, and carries such brands as Lip Service, Jinx, Tripp NYC and countless others.
They also offer a vast selection of concert and band tees, which seem to be their most popular seller. The vast majority of Hot Topic stores also have a healthy selection of music to choose from as well.
For plus size women, Hot Topic also owns and operates a chain of women's clothing stores that cater to fuller figured women, called Torrid.
Criticism and the Counter-Culture
It's obvious that Hot Topic's merchandise is aimed towards youth alternative cultures, including gothic, indie, "emo," and yes, punk. The chain store even helps sponser major music festivals, including Ozzfest and the Sounds of The Underground Tour. However, there seems to be much criticism directed towards the shop.
Since the late 1990's, Hot Topic has continued to be criticized as a "poser" store; a store that does not truly understand what the punk culture stands for. Members of the punk scene and other counter-cultures have even gone so far as to refrain from shopping at Hot Topic, or at any shopping malls for that matter.
There seems to be much resentment within the punk and alternative communities that a lifestyle that's so important to them would become so popularized by the consumer mainstream.
To many people, punk isn't merely a fashion statement, but a way of life for those who defy mainstream popularity in order to be true to themselves. According to some, the store creates a mockery of this lifestyle choice by choosing to display "rebellious" images and stereotypical punk merchandise to draw in the younger crowd who wish to look "cool" for their peers.
Though Hot Topic claims to be "everything about the music," there are many who would disagree with their slogan.
Whatever the case may be, it's clear that Hot Topic won't be packing their bags anytime soon. As long as they continue to provide the youth counter-culture with alternative fashion and merchandise choices (and the demand for this type of fashion still exists) Hot Topic will remain a fixture in America's malls.
