Purple Southern Vermont College T-Shirt from '90s is Peculiar Color Choice (From SVC Bookstore)

 

Purple Southern Vermont College T-Shirt Clashes with Trademark SVC Green.

Somebody at the Southern Vermont College bookstore was feeling adventurous when placing an order for purple SVC logo T-Shirts. While you'll have no problem finding a purple shirt in neighboring Williamstown, various shades of green undoubtedly represent SVC best. They don't call them the Purple Mountains, right?

This was another bargain bin find from the late 1990s, purchased from the SVC bookstore when it was located in the basement of the Everett Mansion. The full retail price of the shirt was something like $29.99, which was a pretty penny in '90s dollars. After subsequent price reductions, I became the lucky owner of this curious T-Shirt for the cut rate price of $5.99 (which still amounted to an hour of work-study pay).

Having no fashion sense of my own, the full ramifications of my new acquisition didn't become apparent until a little good-natured ribbing from my wannabe fashion police lounge mates. Having said that, I get the last laugh every time I wear the purple SVC shirt. In this age of disposable fast fashion, how many people routinely wear clothes that are approaching 25 years old? The quality has surely made amends for such a monumental fashion faux pas.

I've developed several theories about the curious history of the purple SVC shirt. Maybe the screen printer made an error, or maybe the bookstore employee who placed the order was colorblind? Were the purple shirts Williams College surplus and donated to SVC, or maybe an SVC bookstore employee got a little too experimental? The truth may never be known. But one thing is for certain - I'll proudly continue to wear the purple Southern Vermont College T-Shirt with pride, even if it means a citation or two from the fashion police!