It is pretty common to seen uniform ad placement on participants in most sports and public events, but it might come as a bit of a shock to see a group of kids walking to school with advertisements all over their uniforms.
In KunMing Province, China, that is exactly what you are likely to see, as around 525 students have been issued sharp new orange uniforms covered in advertisements.
Students in Asia are required to wear school uniforms and it was obviously an opportunity companies like Vodafone, Shell, Ferrari, and even cigarette company Marlboro, just couldn’t pass on.
The parents were shocked to see that their children now looked like they were part of a Formula One pit crew, but in China there is little the parents can say or do about the situation.
The kids don’t seem to mind the logo placements and even if they did get a little stressed out, they now know which brand of cigarette will help calm their nerves.
(link)
Latest posts by Mui Mui (see all)
- 3-year-old Boy Rides 3 Miles Down Busy Streets - May 29, 2012
- ATM Stole Your Money? What Now? - April 18, 2009
- Boy, Pierced Through Stomach With 5 Foot Rod, Lives - March 18, 2009
killergabo(Allen)
dude…that is soo cool and gay
at the same time….i mean..seriously, how cool is it to look like a formula 1 pit crew at the age of 8??!?!?!
Alex
This is just a Ferrari-F1 team coat, all the sponsors are same as Scuderia Ferrari, I don’t think those companies ‘sponsored’ the uniform, the uniform is probably supplied by the F1 team…
Alex
my theory is that a factory was producing this in China, probably fake…however there were leftovers that were then donated to the schools who then gave them to the kids as school uniforms…
the uniforms were NOT ‘sponsored’ by those companies, if the author actually reads link she supplies as ‘proof’ then you will know instead of fabricating a total non story
I’ve even translated the article for you so everyone can see how your contribution compares…
“524 primary school kids from class 1 to class six from Kunming’s Xishan district put on their new tangerine-orange school uniform. Wearing their bright school uniform they happily chase each other in the school campus. But this thing that baffles the parents is that both shoulders, the front and the cuffs are filled with the colourful logos of well-known international brands such as Vodafone, Bridgestone, Marlbolo, Shell and Ferrari. Dressed as they are, these little school kids look no different to Schumacher and other grand prix drivers who they see on TV or mangazines.”
Sun Tzu
Pretty strong accusation of a fabrication of a story.. Especially when your own idea is admitted as a theory.
You really have no idea, even of the translation, whether they were sponsored or not.
It is rare that anything in China is given away and if they were just wearing them for fun it would be one thing. These are official uniforms at the school.
If they were donated then the story would probably say as much.
You may be able to translate Chinese but it is clear you don’t get small town Chinese culture.
Thanks for the comment though, you never know, they could have been donated..
commie
And nowhere in the article does it say that the school was sponsored by any of these companies. Please do not try and sensationalize, just write write the facts.
Gabie-chan
lolz
DJ
That is (as previously mentioned) the Ferrari F1 colours and sponsorships but… from at least 2 years ago as Vodafone are no longer sponsors.
To be honest though the corporate logos on teamwear are normally stitched on patches not woven into the the fabric and the prancing horse emblem doesn’t look quite right.
Anders
If I remember this correctly, tobacco companies are no longer permitted as sponsors for F1-teams.
myra
using school uniforms to advertise tobacco is a bad move.
anoukje
ah, a new generation of smokers! welcome, young ones!
Shel
Again, in Europe they are huge F1 fans! This is the scuderia marlboro team’s uniform…
Mr. McGee
they are obviously created for children to wear based on their sizes. it’s shitty to use children as billboards for ANY company for any reason. besides, Marlboro, Ferrari and whomever else certainly could have afforded to give clean uniforms (without adverts) on them. it’s shameful, and shows how much in the dark ages china really is. you can have shiny city centers all you want, without basic rights you still live in a third world nation.
mattnnz
I too think that it is a stretch to think that these brands are sponsoring the school. I think Marboros about the only thing on these uniforms that these people could have any use for. Maybe it is some sort of corrupt deal where the owner of the factory where the jackets are made is the brother of the guy deciding what uniforms the kids wear. Maybe the guy who picked the uniforms figured the kids would enjoy dressing up like an F1 team. Or maybe this is just China and we will never understand. 😛
Phred
Bear in mind here, that company trademarks and logos are IP, something which is not widely respected in China. The fact that the logos appear does imply that the companies had anything at all to do with this whole thing. So, I’m inclined to believe that the uniforms are fake.
It is also my impression ( and anyone more familiar with Chinese culture can help me out here) that mostly anything with an American ‘feel’ to it is considered cool and hip, at least by young people. I cannot imagine that the government (which certainly controls the schools) would look kindly on school uniforms that glorified the decadent, capitalistic West.
I’m also not sure whether the idea of corporate sponsorship has taken hold in China. We don’t think twice about it, bombarded as we are by advertising, but F1 Racing in *schools*? Staples, Office Max, yeah I could see them sponsoring schools.
I’m inclined to vote with the previous poster – This is China, and we will never understand.
Jack Fancy
As an American living in China, I agree with Phred’s comments… These kinds of logos are seen everywhere here, to enhance that western feel. From bars to discos to clothing, it’s easy to find a Ferrari or Marlboro logo pasted somewhere. For sure, it is another IP violation, not a real sponsorship.
Children do wear uniforms but their uniforms say what school they go to… I don’t see that on these jackets.
And, there is no Kunming province, but rather a Kunming city in Yunnan province.
Perhaps the jackets were for some special even. That would make more sense.
Turkey
hehe really interesting point, world smoke king ads on childs uniform:D
McCow
When they grow up, and start smoking 3 packs a day, they can save their Marlboro miles & get a Marlboro oxygen tank to breath with…..
Paolo
I’m posting this just to let you know that this is an old story: it was first published in 2005 and since then the school has given the uniforms back to the seller…
tina
ouch – just the direction we don’t want to go
Kay
is it sure that this is the school uniform, but not the unifrom for a certain function? couldn’t see school logo…
Uncle B
China is right to teach its young to smoke – In America it is the only way we can bear the load foisted on our young shoulders by rampant vulture capitalism and corporate exploitation – without this kind drugging of the young suicide rates skyrocket, with it, they fall as do mental illness rates. Americans of the larger lower class smoke out of necessity ! They need to be numbed down as well as dumbed down and cheaply as possible, and preferably self-administered! Tobacco the ideal sedative for the working class soon rids state of old age pension obligations too! This is the stuff that built the British Empire, sustains all things American and will bring China greater glories at economically practical prices! Self-induced shorter lives, exploitable for their best years then suffering quick cancer- deaths, and in the States, disenfranchised from medical expenses by unemployability in the sickened stages, they die like flies around Shiite piles, by themselves no euthanasia costs, just the cremation for sanitation! Sounds like a good solid corporatist plan for higher ROI's from the working cattle we exploit – the sub-humans needed for our glory, pensions, holidays, air-conditioned offices! Fact of daily life States-side, China catches on quickly! Good Stuff! Keep the "Upper Class" Upper! Yes sir! Wanna tip from America? Feed the dumb fvcks some booze or a bit of pot at their reproductive age – they'll keep on coming just like bugs on poop! Ready for the factory gates! Hooked and reproducing at great rates!
Sylvia
Haha, this would never fly in the U.S.! People would throw a fit, but really I don't see what the big deal is. They don't have money and it's a reputable tobacco sponsor.. haha.
-Sylvia
Shipping Scales