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In a private Facebook group for fans of the brand Pinup Girl Clothing, members avidly share photos of themselves wearing its retro-inspired dresses, solicit styling advice, and ask questions about new product releases. But recently another conversation topic has sprung up: how to keep their favorite clothing items protected during a hurricane.
With Hurricane Irma heading for Florida after destroying islands in the Caribbean, members of the Pinup Girl Clothing community in Jacksonville and Orlando shared their strategies for securing garments during the storm, like sealing them in bags and putting those in a plastic bin that’s taped to prevent leaking. Others recommended bagging clothing and shutting it in the dishwasher under the logic that it’s watertight and bolted into kitchen cabinets.
More than anything, though, these posts have elicited dozens of replies asking those in hurricane zones about their evacuation plans and imploring them to “stay safe,” since personal safety is more important than the fate of a cute dress. One Atlanta-based member offered housing if someone needed it. Another asked after the well-being of Montana residents, in light of the wildfires that have blazed across the state this summer.
As anyone who’s complimented a stranger on her outfit knows, clothing can be an easy conduit to conversation. Looking at the pure volume of comments in Pinup Girl Clothing’s group, it’s clear that a shared appreciation for a brand can also be the basis for a real community.