January 1, 2009
Posted: January 1st, 2009 09:47 AM ET

From
 Fashion icon Diane von Furstenberg designed the Obama Love tote for the Runway to Change collection.
Fashion icon Diane von Furstenberg designed the Obama Love tote for the Runway to Change collection.

(CNN) – Even in a recession, Obama merchandise sells - and the Presidential Inaugural Committee is again looking to fashion icons to cash in, teaming up with designers to raise funds for next month’s presidential inauguration.

The latest “Runway to Change” collection — part of the official inauguration memorabilia Web store unveiled Wednesday - features designers like Tory Burch, Diane von Furstenberg, and Zac Posen. Shoppers can choose from merchandise like tote bags, T-shirts, and an Alexander Wang scarf monogrammed with the word “Change.”

In keeping with the nation’s budget-conscious mood, prices top out at $70 — a fraction of what designs by these fashion industry heavyweights usually command.

The “Runway to Change” line launched during Obama’s presidential campaign, and featured apparel and accessories created by name-brand supporters of the then-candidate.

Filed under: Barack Obama • Presidential inauguration


Dennis   January 1st, 2009 2:51 pm ET

There is one reason for the current state of our economy and that is the meddling of the Federal Government. Over regulation, not under regulation is to blame. The Community Reinvestment Act coerced banks into granting mortages to the under qualified, causing the credit crisis. Individuals and companies are overtaxed and Federal spending on non defense related programs was out of control before the recent bail out mania. Liberalism gone wild is the greatest threat to our country. Obama promised the same out of control government activism which is a recipe for disaster.

I can only hope that Obama truly changes the ways of Washington with drastic tax cuts and reductions in the non defense Federal budget. This will only happen if he obandons most of his campaign promises and reverses course. Yes "Obama 180", that's change we can all believe in!

Deb   January 1st, 2009 2:41 pm ET

I love that bag........see you on Jan 20!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nate   January 1st, 2009 2:39 pm ET

Happy New Yr in Obamica. Fashion THAT!

lgl   January 1st, 2009 2:36 pm ET

fashion this,
people dying all over the world, unemployment the highest ever, president spending money like its water and your worrying about President Elect Obama's aunt!! It's people like you that probably voted for the imbecile that did this to our country. Like this administration you care nothing about our country, just yourself!
Wake up and smell the coffee. Do you have a good job, if so stop complaining, if not you better start praying for Obama!

Texas Teacher   January 1st, 2009 2:28 pm ET

Those who have to extra money to spend should spend it.... even if the items are made in another country (God forbid with Slave... I mean child labor) then buy it. The jobs that are filled in bringing the merchandise to the US, packaging it, transporting it, and selling it is paying in American Jobs. Whatever it takes... we have to keep this economy moving. Some people cannot afford to buy... but there are still many who can.

Ann   January 1st, 2009 2:26 pm ET

What idiot woman would use this Safeway bag?

From PA   January 1st, 2009 2:26 pm ET

Printing more money for short term positive effect, in the long run will put the country into debt

Deb Osborne   January 1st, 2009 2:25 pm ET

I ABSOLUTELY love the bag! Where can I get one (or 2)?

ana   January 1st, 2009 2:25 pm ET

Too bad all this WASTED money is being put to better use like helping the homeless and unemployed who are truly suffering.

The amount of money being wasted during this inauguration is a slap in the face to all the people in America who are struggling to put food on their table and keep a roof over their heads.

I guess some people only care about the economy when they are trying to get elected.

Joyce Becker   January 1st, 2009 2:25 pm ET

I would love to buy the tote bag, it looks so nice and roomy and would carry so much of my stuff. It is an excellent idea to sell these designer things and those who don't approve need not buy anything.

3strikes   January 1st, 2009 2:22 pm ET

you lemming followers of the false messiah nobama are so predictable and pathetic, i cant wait until he disappoints you all, getting all your hopes up about "change" and then downplaying it to hide the fact that he cannot and will not bring about change. this is your goin to hell in a handbag, nobama delivered you.

fmr. Hillary Supporter now for McCain   January 1st, 2009 2:19 pm ET

TCM and josh are right. and if the rest of you can't see it, well then you're ignorrant and stupid.

Debby   January 1st, 2009 2:17 pm ET

All this hype about Obama and this big party coming up. I hope he helps the country since he is been put on this big pedestal.

Juan Grain   January 1st, 2009 2:17 pm ET

Where can i get an Obama Super Hero figure at?

flyer   January 1st, 2009 2:16 pm ET

Don't put her on a boat. Make her swim.

Joe Fattal   January 1st, 2009 2:16 pm ET

Who cares if his aunt Zeituni is illegal or not. As long he don't get all his family, I mean all of them including her to live in the white house. Nothing racial but around where I live if a black family moves in, everybody and I mean everyone in the family moves in, like mexicans.

Terry   January 1st, 2009 2:11 pm ET

The purpose of life, of course, is to shop and buy. If you have money that you haven't put in a cash register somewhere, then you are a criminal and perhaps a traitor as well.

We have a new president, so all Americans should purchase Chinese-made goods with Obama's picture. Buy them with your credit cards if you don't have cash. Those corporations need us, and we can't abandon them now, in their time of need.

Carolyn from GA   January 1st, 2009 2:00 pm ET

To Dan, TX: I never thought about it that way. This is an economic boost to that region. Just like for New Year's eve in Times Square, someone has to police the area, clean up the area, get people to where they are going (planes, Amtrak, taxis, limos, metro rails, metro buses), show visitors around (tour companies), provide things if wanted for those tourists to do (theater shows, museum tours), sell merchandise (such as the bag listed above and other collectibles and momentos). The list goes on once you add in places to stay, fuel for the cars, buses and limos. This people is what it means to stimulate the economy.

However, as I said the list goes on, this is stimulating to some degree all parts of the country. I live in GA but I am going on a charted bus with a group of people leaving from this area. All the companies that own buses to charter are also making money right hear in GA. Actually, all of the places that own buses to charter in my town are sold out. That is the position to be in when you own a business. Business is so good that everyone has purchased all of your inventory. This scenario goes for any bus being chartered, any plane, or Amtrak seat from any destination with the purpose of making it to the inauguration. Some low cost airlines have added flights (more jobs that were not there). The original departure points to get to Washington, DC or some place close is making money. Making money means more jobs for the companies that are providing that service.

I know that it is a cliche but I am going to say it anyway: THAT IS CHANGE THAT I CAN BELIEVE IN! Obama needs to keep it coming.

Fashon this.....   January 1st, 2009 1:56 pm ET

Who is hiding Obama's illegal immigrant aunt? And why is CNN not pursuing this story. She;s here illegally and should be on the next boat to Kenya.

Chris in MI   January 1st, 2009 1:56 pm ET

This is fine with me as long as the money these designers rake in goes to feed and clothe homeless people or help people pay their heating bill this winter. If all Obama supporters bought a tote bag, well, hey, that's alot of bucks. I'd buy a bag..

God Help Us   January 1st, 2009 1:56 pm ET

All clothes and accesories that have been made from the use of child labor should be banned...

Carole   January 1st, 2009 1:50 pm ET

I love it!!!!! Anyone who does not want to buy it, don't buy it. When we had a surplus in 2000 I distinctly recall Bush memorabilia being sold, just not on such a grand scale because HALF the country felt robbed and as for the other half with a shred of fairness they knew that was not the normal way President's get elected. Every vote always counted, so we think.

Diane Von Furstenberg has done, as always, a great job at designing something that I want to buy. Where and how can I buy one? I am not star struck. I am for once being an African American proud of how our country realized that the division the Repubs always created only benefited the wealthy and saw past color of skin. We are all in this together.

flyer   January 1st, 2009 1:50 pm ET

I wouldn't spend a wooden nickel for anything having to do with the farce coming up.

flyer   January 1st, 2009 1:49 pm ET

I wouldn't spend a wooden nickel for anything having to do with with the farce coming up.

Hall for Obama   January 1st, 2009 1:41 pm ET

TCM, Josh, take a pill and go back to sleep.

Saul- Virginia   January 1st, 2009 1:31 pm ET

Josh,

I admire your effort to explain the national debt and market crash in relation to the declining value of the dollar instead of the failure of the bush administration, wall street greed and the morgage mess, unfortunately it is grossly flawed. For example how then can you explain the rapid decine in our gas prices when we have recently added 700 billion to it.

Please refrain from trying to explain the current finacial situation until you get a better understanding of economics.

If you think it is bad now, a depression is more catasrophic.
If the best thng to do now is to pump more money wisely into the economy to prevent further decline, i suggest you re-evaluate your way of thinking.
The bottom line is that we have a huge mess at hand with no easy clear cut way t fix it. Let us pray for the new administration to get it right and get to to it quick.

bashing baby seals in Alaska   January 1st, 2009 1:28 pm ET

@TCM.Im hiring now, if you need a job.The pays ok, but you cant belong to a union or be a Democrat.Its a bit cold,so dont forget your coat and hat and a good baseball bat.I hope you can leave your computor seat for a month.

Dan, TX   January 1st, 2009 1:27 pm ET

All the money spent on the inauguration and spent on these things are going to really boost the economy in DC and Virginia and Maryland and New York. This is a pretty big economic stimulus to that region of the company. All these items sold at this site are AMERICAN made.

The inauguration is designed to give good jobs to people for the next month in the building, service, and cleanup operations. A million people will spend Jan 15 to 25 in the DC area buying food, clothes, and other tourist industry support. This is a strong economic stimulus for this region of the country.

Saul- Virginia   January 1st, 2009 1:23 pm ET

I admire your effort to explain the national debt and market crash in relation to the declining value of the dollar instead of the failure of the bush administration, wall street greed and the morgage mess, unfortunately it is grossly flawed. For example how then can you explain the rapid decine in our gas prices when we have recently added 700 billion to it.

Please refrain from trying to explain the current finacial situation until you get a better understanding of economics.

If you think it is bad now, a depression is more catasrophic.
If the best thng to do now is to pump more money wisely into the economy to prevent further decline, i suggest you re-evaluate your way of thinking.
The bottom line is that we have a huge mess at hand with no easy clear cut way t fix it. Let us pray for the new administration to get it right and get to to it quick.

Obama 09-16   January 1st, 2009 1:14 pm ET

Where in the article does it state that everyone has to buy a bag.

Those of you who want to contribute to charity do so but at the same time how do you know that people purchasing the merchandise aren't also contributing to worthy causes?

Meka   January 1st, 2009 1:10 pm ET

@ Josh
The devistation of the DOLLAR, has come from the VERY FEW that has benefited from the Current Administration.

This will change with President Obama . . . he is for ALL THE PEOPLE!

Anonymous   January 1st, 2009 1:01 pm ET

TCM,

There we go again with your nonsensical republican talking point as usual. The sad thing is that you do not even understand what you wrote. People like you have done all you could in the past decade to block healthcare for all initiatives, building and supporting schools etc with your narrow minded believe and yet the leaders of such skewed philosophy ( GW Bush and other repubs) have just bailed out the banks with 700 billion dollars, the biggest socialization in history.
Enough!! You have no right to say anything againgst any effort to ensure that all Americans have healthcare or have the oppotunity to go to a good school.
Just Imagine what it would be like in America if we had spent the same amount of money, time and effort towards healthcare, national seurity, schools and our infrastrcture.
I urge you to take a hike and pray hat Obama succeeds for all of our benefit to fix the mess we are currently in.

Your self-rightious attitude make m sick!!

Carolyn from GA   January 1st, 2009 12:59 pm ET

I like that bag. I will head to the website to check out that store. I want stuff before I go to the inauguration. By the way companies are already believing in the "CHANGE" that Obama is promising. Lance has bought out Archway cookies (which left hundreds of people out of jobs) and some of those people have been hired back with Lance. They also gave those employees a $1500 prepaid gift card. The president of Brevard College just donated his raise to the school for a scholarship program to help students by text books. These stories are in the video section of CNN. THAT IS CHANGE THAT I CAN BELIEVE IN!!!

S Callahan   January 1st, 2009 12:56 pm ET

I like the bag too..but this just reminds me of the money changers in the temple....Josh is right...this would be better spent helping the homeless and hungry who are suffering even more so this time of year.

josh   January 1st, 2009 12:54 pm ET

MEKA, how can you possibly say that the DEBT is irrelevant? The debt is what has caused the devaluation of the dollar, which in turn has raised gas prices, partially caused the stock market to crash, and then caused business's to fail and people to lose their jobs. You need to look at the big picture. If our money is worth nothing then it wont matter how much is circulating if a loaf of bread costs $100 and a gallon of milk is $150 and we're all still making the same wages.

bashing baby seals in Alaska   January 1st, 2009 12:52 pm ET

Im donating my money to republicans on corporate welfare.

Mari   January 1st, 2009 12:49 pm ET

HAPPY, HOPEFUL, BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ALL(even the haters)!!

This is COOL! THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR NATION IS HOPEFUL AS WE PREPARE FOR OUR NEW PRESIDENT AND A NEW YEAR!

TO THE HATERS: IF you are Christian, like the majority of the Republicans are, please spend some time in prayer and ask GOD to fill your hearts with goodwill and love! Your hate is getting old and sick!

TO THE HOPEFULS-OBAMA-FOLKS: Let's join together in spreading hope, PEACE, and love...... let's reject the vile that the far-right continues to throw at us and pour out ONLY HOPE & PEACE BACK AT THEM!

HOPE WON...........HOPE WON..........HOPE WON............HOPE WON.....

Sherrol in Canada   January 1st, 2009 12:46 pm ET

I'd love to buy that tote! Where do I get it?

19 More Days!!   January 1st, 2009 12:40 pm ET

TMC: Then don't buy them!! Perhaps you should stick to the racist pancake mix peddled by the Republicans.

Over 70% of Americans are behind Obama. To claim that all are "star-struck" is ludicous.

josh   January 1st, 2009 12:39 pm ET

Your $70 would be better given to a charity that supports an American cause ie: hunger or homelessness. We need to fix our economic situation more than purchase a designer piece of junk at a great price. I'm not sure what type of change this is supposed to bring other than spending the most money in history on another party/campaign. I'm still not seeing the "Change".

Meka   January 1st, 2009 12:36 pm ET

Sorry Ray Fisher, the Debt is irrelevant. President Obama's Main Objective . . . JOBS and MORE JOBS.

Lack of Jobs, is the Problem with the Economy. We have been in WARS before, and we have been through A DEPRESSION before. But we managed to PULL THROUGH.

JOBS, STIMILUATE'S THE ECONOMY-MONEY CIRCULATE'S!

Current Administration has given TAX CREDITS to Business-OUTSOURCING JOBS . . .

President Obama wants to give TAX CREDITS FOR JOBS TO STAY IN AMERICA!

Joann, FL   January 1st, 2009 12:28 pm ET

I love that bag also, have to get me one!!!

TCM   January 1st, 2009 12:13 pm ET

The trinkets only sell to Obamkins....that are still star-struck by his charisma and celebrity....but those bags, libs, you'll need them when you're homless from trying to pay the taxes for all the entitlement programs!

Ray Fisher   January 1st, 2009 12:03 pm ET

I have already donated $50 to the inauguration as I believe all Americans should support our President and hope any surplus will be given to America to pay down our national debt. We should all insist our new President make paying down the debt top priority since it has been key to ruining our economy!!!

vicki   January 1st, 2009 12:01 pm ET

I love that bag!

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