Last year the United States Postal Service (USPS) lost $15.9 billion dollars. The post office is scrambling to make changes that will allow it to continue operating. Last month they announced that Saturday mail delivery will end. There is also talk of closing thousands of post offices around the country.
However, the service cuts and closings might not provide enough savings to rescue the gigantic and antiquated agency that is burdened with bloated pension and healthcare obligations. So, the post office has had to look elsewhere for revenue and savings: the world of fashion.
Image: Bravo.com
Today (Feb 20th) is the anniversary of President George Washington signing the Postal Service Act. Yesterday we got the news that the United States Postal Service (USPS) was branching out and expanding their business. The plan? From the press release:
The Postal Service’s unofficial motto, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds,” serves as a backdrop for a licensing agreement the organization has signed with Cleveland-based fashion apparel company Wahconah Group, Inc. The agreement leverages Postal Service intellectual property by introducing the Rain Heat & Snow brand of apparel and accessory products.
Image: Wahconah Group
The Wahconah Group is described in the press release as, “is a minority-owned company based in Cleveland, OH, with extensive experience in the fashion apparel industry.” However, the company’s website never mentions the minority-owned element, but they do describe themselves thusly; “The Wahconah Group designs, sources, manufactures, and sells apparel with an initial focus on the men’s apparel market.”
The press release makes mention of Wahconah’s intent to create a women’s line of USPS clothing “in the future.” The initial launch will be for men’s clothing only, with a focus on something called “smart apparel”:
“This agreement will put the Postal Service on the cutting edge of functional fashion,” said Postal Service Corporate Licensing Manager Steven Mills. “The main focus will be to produce Rain Heat & Snow apparel and accessories using technology to create ‘smart apparel’ — also known as wearable electronics.”
The postal service is now focusing on “the cutting edge of functional fashion?” TheBlaze has read all of the original text of the 1792 Postal Services Act and the words fashion, clothing, and apparel are nowhere in the 8 1/2 page document.
Is it possible that the seeds for this postal fashion idea were planted on reality television? In the very first season of Bravo’s Project Runway, the show had a challenge to redesign the uniforms of postal workers.
Image: Bravo.com
Or, did the United States Postal Service (USPS) just learn something from a 20-year-old Mel Brooks movie?
Either way, the move is important because, as the press release sates:
“The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.”
Are you looking forward seeing what fashion forward designs will come from the Post Office this Spring? And can fashion save the post office?
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Comments (73)
Eubionecanknowme
Feb. 20, 2013 at 11:53pmReminds me of the old Wendy’s Hamburger Commercial about the centralized government of Communist Russia. Under Putin I expect these conditions to re-appear. under Obama, we are heading in the same direction go to :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CaMUfxVJVQ
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chasbronson
Feb. 20, 2013 at 11:34pmWhy don’t they just try to deliver the mail correctly for once.They are just another bloated bureau.They are full of union people who are careless and could not give a **** about their customers.Of course there are a few minor exceptions.They just recently destroyed and lost a full exaust system for my bike.When you call and talk to them they could care less and tell you they hope you had it insured.Now they are trying to make it difficult to get the claim.
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AlaskaismyEden
Feb. 20, 2013 at 9:57pmThe post office does the best it can while being gutted by the government… if left alone, it would do just fine. They definitely can’t do worse fashion-wise… no crack showing here!
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Warphead
Feb. 20, 2013 at 9:19pmSomehow I see this all going horribly wrong. Wait. It’s happening. A vision from. I can see but its fuzzy. Yes,an old woman, lying down. No, sick, she, no not sick she is, Oh my she is hurt, beaten. There is a younger woman leaning over her crying. A relative, daughter granddaughter. She is trying to understand. Words weak. There are others there. I feel pity. From some I feel rage. From all I feel, what is it. I feel finality, hopelessness, sadness. I can’t hear any words. Oh, no. There it is. No words just an image. A flash. A man on the porch. Recognition. He has something. A box. She is smiling, happy, hurry, excitement.Goes to the door. A present from, from Judy, Julie or something like that. She sees a present from a loved one. Certainty, joy and pride I sense. She looks again, feels safe. The man,something calming, reassuring, familiar. A uniform, he is in a uniform. She opens the door and he smiles. He approaches. Owww, pain, terrible pain in my head. She is looking across the floor. Amazement, on the floor? How? She sees the man’s feet, crack, pain left side, step over enter house. Their is crashing, crashing. Uh, hold on. No not yet. Damned! I’m sorry I lost the image. Wow. That was intense. Sorry that happened here. It just happens. I must write it down immediately as it fades quickly. I wonder what all that meant? Ah, Back to the post office clothing. Only a few will want them. The company that makes them will fail as they invest everything. Bad idea
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Mr.Fitnah
Feb. 20, 2013 at 8:21pmWhy not try some Muslim outreach .
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What the Heck
Feb. 20, 2013 at 5:16pm()(*)(*&^&^$)(_+_)+*)(*&&^^%#%@^&)(*(
What can you say, another government screw up trying to be in business to make money only to lose the money us hard working people sent to Uncle Sam Stupid.
When will they realize they have NO business sense and should just go about TRYING to protect this country from foreign invaders called illegals and those like moo slimes seeking to destroy us.
Just one MORE BAD idea.
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Bvikay
Feb. 20, 2013 at 4:18pmWell now. Proof positive that the USPS is losing money because it is being managed by the inmates from the asylum. How about we begin by reducing the Post Master General’s salary by half? Anybody who loses 15 billion dollars in one year should be fired!
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Verceofreason
Feb. 20, 2013 at 6:02pmHow about we reverse a 2006 forcing the PO to have a fully funded pension system up to
and including 2075.
Yet another Republican plot, like the military, to privatize.
Resulting in things costing 3X as much,
You are such a silly, uninformed bunch.
And that Jebby and the Mrs. lust for them Charter Schools.
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USANUMBERONE
Feb. 20, 2013 at 3:44pmThe blaze has the funniest bloggers.
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USANUMBERONE
Feb. 20, 2013 at 3:40pmThey could sell twinkies.
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STEEEEVE53
Feb. 20, 2013 at 2:31pmThey are branching out in the wrong product……the hot items now are guns – I can see the commercial now….”Go postal with our USPS shotgun”
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What the Heck
Feb. 20, 2013 at 5:22pmThey could offer free shipping when you purchase 1000 rounds of AR15 amo,
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Warphead
Feb. 20, 2013 at 9:34pmNow you have hit on something. I mean seriously, how intimidating and bada$$ is that. Mr. Cool in his postal uniform, bag of mail in one hand, 12 gauge in the other. Now tell me you wouldn’t be gettin some respect all postal bein like armed and sh#.
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MACaTAC
Feb. 20, 2013 at 2:29pmIs that a guy in a dress?
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USANUMBERONE
Feb. 20, 2013 at 3:42pmYes
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garylee123
Feb. 20, 2013 at 1:52pmNothing says fashion like going postal.
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yoshik
Feb. 20, 2013 at 1:43pmWhy?
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grimjack3791
Feb. 20, 2013 at 1:04pmCliff Clavin and the entity known as “Newman” could not be reached for comment.
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denkat56
Feb. 20, 2013 at 12:55pmHow about shutting down their union, how about hiring people that know how to manage a business.
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DontStopBelieving
Feb. 20, 2013 at 12:49pmI”m confused…..are they getting new clothing for themselves? Or,,,are they designing clothing for us mere mortals to purchase and wear out and about? If they’re buying it for themselves to wear around the neighborhood WHERE are they getting the $$$$$? If they are planning on selling this crap to the public, did they not think this through? Any idiot can purchase this stuff and impersonate a mailman, think of the possibilities for crime.
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USANUMBERONE
Feb. 20, 2013 at 4:02pmonly mail people are going to buy them uniforms.
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NHwinter
Feb. 20, 2013 at 12:42pmIf we only had intelligent people in the government!!!! Who in their right mind would want to wear a postal uniform. This idea stinks along with everything else the government is doing. What a sad state America is in now, really sad. Just like a military uniform – no one can or should wear one that isn’t in the military. The same should be true for the postal uniform.
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cantstandlibs
Feb. 20, 2013 at 12:35pmIf we an get the public schools to require this clothing as a uniform, the USPS pensions can go on forever! And our kids will get used to the “just take a number” look and mentality.
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cantstandlibs
Feb. 20, 2013 at 12:33pmIf we can get the schools to req
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