If you grew up watching “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” you probably had a happy childhood. On his show, Fred Rogers taught children to be curious and inquisitive, all the while fostering their imaginations and expanding their capacity for kindness and empathy in the process. Because of his dedication to this nation’s youth, Mr. Rogers has become an icon of children’s programming and pop culture, too.
Luckily, for those of us who were fortunate enough to learn from Mr. Rogers in our youth, a Pittsburgh-based company has come up with a line of Mr. Rogers-themed merchandise and apparel, and the results are appropriately awesome.
Steel City, with approval from the Mr. Rogers Foundation, has come up with the collection, which includes a range of T-shirts and other accessories, including a plush Mr. Rogers figurine.
The brand is known for its Pittsburgh-themed designs, and, according to Alex Clemence, manager of Steel City, this latest release is a continuation of these efforts.
COMING WEDNESDAY: A whimsical collection of graphic tees and accessories inspired by "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" from apparel brand Steel City https://t.co/AOn2N0AuNJ
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (@PittsburghPG) May 27, 2018
“When you think of Pittsburgh, Mister Rogers is a huge part of that,” he explained. “So, it’s really great for us to be able to represent someone that is such a big part of Pittsburgh and means so much to so many people.”
As far as promotional merchandise is concerned, it always helps when a brand associates itself with a beloved icon, especially if that figure has local roots. These types of collaborations are particularly effective at gaining brand impressions, as well as establishing loyalty amongst end-users looking for a personal connection in what they buy and wear.
The store plans on releasing more Mr. Rogers-themed merchandise this year, and we are all about it. Despite our Philadelphia loyalties, we’re willing to give Pittsburgh some credit here. So kudos to you, yinzers. Just remember, Sidney Crosby won’t be the best player in the world for much longer. We’d mention the Eagles, too, but we’re all-too aware that the Super Bowl scale, as far as Pennsylvania is concerned, is tilted way to the west. Enjoy it while it lasts!
