"Jesus Is My Homeboy" t-shirts all the rage

[matcom]

<snip>

From tank tops to toe rings, secular fashion with a Christian message is pushing into the mainstream and grabbing the attention of finicky teens and others with a sixth sense for fads. Madonna, who is devoted to a form of Jewish mysticism, has been spotted wearing a "Mary Is My Homegirl" T-shirt. So has Pamela Anderson.

Some of the merchandise works on two levels: fun fashion for the faithful, irreverent commentary for others. Either way, Christian apparel is enjoying a moment of hip legitimacy.

"You don't have to be hard-core Christian to think Jesus is my homeboy," says Samantha Lee, a 19-year-old who bought a shirt so emblazoned at the Steve Madden store in Beverly Hills, Calif., after seeing it in magazines.

The homeboy shirts' maker is Teenage Millionaire, an apparel company previously known for shirts with the slogan "Hot Punk." The new religious references are ironic, but the purpose isn't to shock, says Doug Williams, creative director at the Los Angeles company. "It's 2004. People have been shocked to where it doesn't work anymore," he says. "T's can be thought-provoking, and I hope these T's make people think."

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,SB108371467355802221-IBjfINilaJ3mpuuaX6GbaqDm4,00.html

[asjr]

1. I wonder when they will come out with

"Allah is my homeboy."