Many New Orleanians shopping here to support the city
By APRIL CAPOCHINO

November 7, 2005

Uptown resident Jean Johnson is one of the many New Orleanians spending money to help rebuild the city. She's doing it by shopping at local retail shops. She recently bought T-shirts from Metro Three, a clothing store, with the logos: Make levees not war, New Orleans: Still proud to call it home, New Orleans is for lovin' and Go with the contraflow. The Make levees not war T-shirt is a gift for her sister; the other T-shirts are Christmas gifts.Johnson said she's determined to shop local.

Metro Three owners Starbuck, left, and Lori Laney sell a T-shirt to New Orleans resident Jean Johnson, who bought shirts bearing the messages “Make levees, not war” and “Go with the contraflow.”

It makes me feel good to support New Orleans business, Johnson said. Especially creative ones. In the post-Hurricane Katrina world, T-shirts and sweatshirts with slogans such as Save NOLA, I (heart) New Orleans Yo and Defend New Orleans, along with jewelry with the fleur de lis symbol, are allowing shoppers to wear their support for their hometown on their sleeves and elsewhere.

Retailers say they appreciate the business but some are selling merchandise faster than they can stock it.People come in and get five or six at a time, said Starbuck Laney, who owns Metro Three with his wife, Lori. But it's tough for us to keep up because our supplies are running out.

Because of sporadic mail service, Laney and his wife are waiting for three shipments of T-shirts to arrive.'Defend N.O.'T-shirts and sweatshirts with the Defend New Orleans logo also are selling at Turncoats Clothing Exchange on Magazine Street in New Orleans. Jean Therapy owner Vicki Adjmi has been selling Save NOLA T-shirts at its Lakeside Shopping Center location. Save NOLA shirts also are available at Earthsavers stores in Metairie and Mandeville.

The Mignon Faget jewelry store is selling sterling silver and 14-karat gold fleur-de-lis pendants, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, brooches and rings.Across the lake in Mandeville, jeweler Ann Dale said she sold about 3,000 silver pendants bearing the message I know what it means to love New Orleans for $29.95.

Dale calls the pendants badges because they represent something about a person and everyone has a hero that has courage, nobility and honor, she said. No matter what kind of life you're from, rich or poor, it doesn't matter.

Dale began selling the pendants two weeks before filling orders Oct. 15. Proceeds will help Hurricane Katrina victims.

While many of Dale's customers are locals, celebrities have shown interest in the badges, Dale said.

Dan Akroyd bought 500 to give to the New York police and firefighters who came down to help, said Dale. And Harry Connick Jr.'s office requested one.