Once It's on a T-Shirt, It Never Goes Away

Today I received a package that seemed no different than many of the others that arrive every day. But instead of some DVDs, unknown musician's CDs or some random sampling of candy, it was a pink T-shirt that read: "Who Killed Obama?"

It gave me that sinking feeling. I read the press release and discovered it's the work of Doron Braunshtein, aka [Apollo Braun], who has a shop down on Orchard Street in the Lower East Side. Then I showed it around the office: "Is that for real?" I had the same question so called up Braun and spoke to him about the line that he launched over a month ago and is attracting plenty of attention due to his window display.

He explained that he supports Obama and saw this as a way of expressing what so many are already discussing over dinner conversations. "Everyone talks about it. I put it on a shirt." Instead of seeing it as fashion, Braun feels it is a form of performance art. And it all relates to his "opposites theory," which is about  the clash of different motifs to cause something to new to be created.  "I'm very punk rock," Braun explains, and cites Vivienne Westwood as an influence (he also had [Keith Richards daughter ]visit his shop last year). He attracted attention before when he created a line of "[Who Killed Anna Wintour?](http://www.apollobraun.com/store/store.cfm?prodnum=546)" T-shirts and had eight models wear them in Bryant Park during Fashion Week.

While I was talking to him on the phone a passerby commented that he liked the shirt. "It's wild," he said, as Braun put him on the phone. The design doesn't come cheap. Braun explains that the T-shirts and hoodies, which are decorated with safety pins and sequins to make them "one-of-a-kind" items, sell for $129-$250.

But not everyone is a fan. Braun claims that he's received hundreds of calls, some of them death threats and angry messages from Obama supporters. "They don't understand what I'm doing. They think I'm spreading hate." In fact, on Braun's voicemail, his message states: "Only spread love." Later, as we're speaking, he explains the message, saying the project is meant as a collaboration with his ex-boyfriend, who broke up with him by leaving a message, and who originally told him he should make a shirt with the Obama message.

He doesn't seem too worried that putting the less-than-innocuous question on a T-shirt could make physical something that has only been whispered behind closed doors. "Could you imagine if Obama were killed? They might blame me. Then I'd be take to jail and have to have prison sex." But Braun, a charming provocateur doesn't seem too worried about the prospect.

Photo of Apollo Braun in the hoodie courtesy of [Papier Doll].