‘Leverage the local’: The fashion trend that explains why everyone around you is channeling their inner tourist

Call it chic or call it cringe: Clothing that bears the name of a city near or far has become a closet staple for many consumers in recent years.

Once mostly reserved for impulse purchases from kitschy tourist shops while traveling, now clothing with the name of far-off places is just as likely to be purchased at home.

Consider the iconic “I love New York” tee, a favored souvenir for nearly 50 years. Gone are the days when you would need to brave the Times Square crowds to get one.