Nordstrom is selling "mud-stained" jeans to the tune of $425.
They're called the "Barracuda Straight Leg Jeans" and come with some sort of fake mud substance caked all over them. (It's not clear what that substance is.) The knees, pockets and crotch of the jeans appear bear most of the faux brown muck.
And as CNN discovered, "the dirt does not wash out, because it's actually not real dirt."
The jeans were designed by PRSP and are sold on Nordstrom's website, which describes them this way:
Heavily distressed medium-blue denim jeans in a comfortable straight-leg fit embody rugged, Americana workwear that's seen some hard-working action with a crackled, caked-on muddy coating that shows you're not afraid to get down and dirty.
A few people with jobs that involve getting "down and dirty" are pretty miffed.
Among them is Mike Rowe, the former host of TV's "Dirty Jobs," who channeled his befuddled anger in a Facebook post that's been shared more than 13,500 times and liked more than 31,000 times as of Wednesday morning.
"This morning, for your consideration, I offer further proof that our country's war on work continues to rage in all corners of polite society," he wrote of the jeans. "Finally - a pair of jeans that look like they have been worn by someone with a dirty job . . . made for people who don't."
"But forget the jeans themselves for a moment, and their price, and look again at the actual description," Rowe wrote. "'Rugged Americana' is now synonymous with a 'caked-on, muddy coating.' Not real mud. Fake mud. Something to foster the illusion of work. The illusion of effort. Or perhaps, for those who actually buy them, the illusion of sanity."
He added later in the post, "The Barracuda Straight Leg Jeans aren't pants. They're not even fashion. They're a costume for wealthy people who see work as ironic - not iconic."
The response from Twitter was swift.
As one person tweeted, "Welp, it's official. Working class is en vogue."
"If you want to look dirty and broke, here are those stupid dirty jeans," tweeted another user. "I'll stick to actual work."
"My husband has jeans like this that he's been wasting on car repair," tweeted another.
The jokes spilled onto Nordstrom's website but have since been deleted, according to Business Insider.
One read, "This is a joke, right? Do you also sell jeans covered in cow manure? Oh, that must be the deluxe model."
Another read, "Gotta love being able to look like I have fed the pigs, helped deliver a calf, and get the tractor unstuck without ever having to leave my BMW."
Nordstrom, however, is used to such publicity.
Earlier this year, the company caught the public's attention for selling a pair of jeans with square-cut holes at the knee, then covered in clear plastic. "Slick plastic panels bare your knees for a futuristic feel in tapered and cropped high-waist jeans," read the description.
They "clear knee mom jeans," as they were call, sold for $95.
And then there was the company's "medium leather wrapped stone," - medium-sized stone wrapped in leather.
"A paperweight? A conversation piece? A work of art? It's up to you, but this smooth Los Angeles-area stone - wrapped in rich, vegetable-tanned American leather secured by sturdy contrast backstitching - is sure to draw attention wherever it rests, " read the description, which also boasted of its "simplicity and functionality." That functionality remains unclear.
The product sold out last year.
Some folks found a silver lining in the jeans (one that isn't covered in mud).
One Facebook user wrote, "On a positive note, hard working guys everywhere can now sell the jeans they no longer want to wear for $400 bucks a pop!"
The Washington Post
Wed Apr 26 2017
The jeans were designed by PRSP and are sold on Nordstrom's website.
2TM: Consultations on PTPTN loans, admission to IPTA at MOHE booth
Consultations on PTPTN loans and admission to IPTA are among services provided at the Higher Education Ministry booth.
Kampung Tanjung Kala residents affected by flooded bridge every time it rains heavily
Almost 200 residents from 60 homes in Kampung Tanjung Kala have ended up stuck when their 200-metre (m) long concrete bridge flooded.
COP29 climate summit draft proposes rich countries pay $250 billion per year
The draft finance deal criticised by both developed and developing nations.
Bomb squad sent to London's Gatwick Airport after terminal evacuation
This was following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage.
Kelantan urges caution amidst northeast monsoon rains
Kelantan has reminded the public in the state to refrain from outdoor activities with the arrival of the Northeast Monsoon season.
Former New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern receives UN leadership award
Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern was given a global leadership award by the United Nations Foundation.
ICC'S arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant an apt decision - PM
The decision of the ICC to issue arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant is apt, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
KTMB provides two additional ETS trains for Christmas, school holidays
KTMB will provide two additional ETS trains for the KL Sentral-Padang Besar route and return trips in conjunction with the holidays.
BNM'S international reserves rise to USD118 bil as at Nov 15, 2024
Malaysia's international reserves rose to US$118.0 billion as at Nov 15, 2024, up from US$117.6 billion on Oct 30, 2024.
Findings by dark energy researchers back Einstein's conception of gravity
The findings announced are part of a years-long study of the history of the cosmos focusing upon dark energy.
NRES responds to Rimbawatch press release on COP29
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) wishes to offer the following clarifications to the issues raised.
Online Safety Bill and Anti-Cyberbullying Laws must carefully balance rights and protections
The Online Safety Advocacy Group (OSAG) stands united with people in Malaysia in the fight against serious online harms.
Malaysia's inflation at 1.9 pct in Oct 2024 - DOSM
Malaysia's inflation rate for October 2024 has increased to 1.9 per cent, up from 1.8 per cent in September this year.
Saudi Arabia showcases Vision 2030 goals at Airshow China 2024
For the first time, Saudi Arabia is participating in the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition held recently in Zhuhai.
King Charles' coronation cost GBP 71mil, govt accounts show
The coronation of Britain's King Charles cost taxpayers GBP72 million (US$90 million), official accounts have revealed.
Couple and associate charged with trafficking 51.9 kg of meth
A married couple and a man were charged in the Magistrate's Court here today with trafficking 51.974 kilogrammes of Methamphetamine.
PDRM to consult AGC in completing Teoh Beng Hock investigation
The police may seek new testimony from existing witnesses for additional insights into the investigation of Teoh Beng Hock's death.
Thai court rejects petition over ex-PM Thaksin's political influence
Thailand's Constitutional Court rejects a petition seeking to stop Thaksin Shinawatra from interfering in the running the Pheu Thai party.
Abidin takes oath of office as Sungai Bakap assemblyman
The State Assemblyman for Sungai Bakap, Abidin Ismail, was sworn in today at the State Assembly building, Lebuh Light.
UPNM cadet officer charged with injuring junior, stomping on him with spike boots
A cadet officer at UPNM pleaded not guilty to a charge of injuring his junior by stomping on the victim's stomach with spike boots.