Page 13 - IAV Digital Magazine #521

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Lingerie Stores Are Protesting Lockdown Laws By Sending The French PM Ladies Underwear
By Sidrah Naqvi
As part of a protest by lingerie shop owners whose stores have been forced to close due to the country's lock- down, each Prime Minister Jean Castex is receiv- ing ladies' under- wear in the mail.
The creative activists have been posting pho- tos of the different underwear they have sent Castex, tucked inside an envelope with a letter detailing their grievances, on social media.
The protest was organized by the group Action Culottée after lin- gerie stores were classified as non- essential busi-
nesses and were forced to close to limit Covid-19 transmission.
"We found a way to bring the num- ber of participants up to 200 retail- ers," Nathalie Paredes, the pro- ject's founder and owner of the Sylvette Lingerie store in Lyon, told
CNN. She said, "(That) means 200 panties" have been submitted to the prime minis- ter.
Paredes' commu- nity has posted hundreds of pho- tos of the one-of- a-kind shipments Castex has received online.
In a press release, the group said, "We wish to bring to light the very critical situa- tion that hundreds of underwear shops across France are expe- riencing."
"Florists, book- shops, hair salons, and record stores
have all been designated as "key" businesses. What about underwear, though? "said the collective. "Isn't it a matter of hygiene and safe- ty? Isn't it the first thing we put on when we get ready in the morning?"
"How come our department is non-essential, but hairdressing is?" Paredes was added to the mix.
Castex was advised to rethink the lockout rules in each box, according to the letter included in each package. "Prime Minister, the truth is that we are all neces- sary. Small, inde- pendent busi- nesses are pre- cious.
They help to keep our communities alive by contribut- ing to the local economy, "It declares. CNN has contacted Castex's office for comment.
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