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COULD WikiLeaks soon be better known as a fashion label? Whilst challenging Chanel and Prada for brand recognition doesn't appear to be on the cards, the online non-profit organisation - which publishes secrets and leaks that it deems in the public interest - plans to open stores in India as part of a global drive to raise awareness and funds. <\/p>\n
\"India is one of the countries where awareness about WikiLeaks is the highest and Julian [Assange, WikiLeaks founder] is excited about the proposition,\" Olafur Vignir Sigurvinsson, an Iceland-based WikiLeaks representative, told the Times of India. He added that the monetisation of the WikiLeaks brand would help raise funds for the company, which - like Wikipedia - currently survives on donations. \"We are also looking for partners in India, who can manage the property and translate it into retail and e-retail platforms,\" Olafur added. <\/p>\n
The organisation already retails selected products, including T-shirts bearing the slogans \"Designated enemy of the state\", \"Leaks exposing injustice\" and \"By becoming continuous, war has ceased to exist\". Whether selling T-shirts for up to $100 each will sit well with many who believe passionately in the company's \"information free to all\" ideology remains to be seen. <\/p>\n
This is not Assange's first dalliance with fashion. In June, he was said to be preparing to take to the catwalk for fashion designer Ben Westwood - son of Vivienne and a staunch supporter of Assange - but he had to withdraw due to ill health. <\/p>\n
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