Banksy has opened a pop-up shop in Croydon, South London, featuring the stab vest he designed for Stormzy’s iconic performance at Glastonbury.
Known as Gross Domestic Product, the store is a window display in a former carpet shop that will sell a range of “impractical and offensive” merchandise by Banksy.
Items on sale go for as little as £10.
“I’m opening a shop today,” the artist said on Instagram.
“Although the doors don’t actually open.”
Banksy revealed the reasoning behind the venture, calling it “possibly the least poetic reason to ever make some art”.
“A greetings cards company is contesting the trademark I hold to my art, and attempting to take custody of my name so they can sell their fake Banksy merchandise legally,” he said.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3FAJKonJ_z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
According ITV, Banksy decided to open the pop-up after receiving legal advice from lawyer Mark Stephens.
“Banksy is in a difficult position because he doesn’t produce his own range of shoddy merchandise and the law is quite clear – if the trademark holder is not using the mark, then it can be transferred to someone who will,” Stephens said.
Banksy said: “I think they’re banking on the idea I won’t show up in court to defend myself.”
Items being sold in the shop include the Union Jack-emblazoned stab-proof vest worn by rapper Stormzy during his headline performance this year at Glastonbury.
There is also a tiger rug, where Banksy has re-imagined the Frosties cereal character Tony the Tiger.
Also on display are life vests collected from Mediterranean shorelines, re-purposed into welcome mats, hand-stitched by women in detainment camps in Greece.
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