Swifties are going otteryly wild!
An otter T-shirt worn by Taylor Swift inspired her loyal fans to shell out more than $2.3 million to a Northern California aquarium – money that will help protect sea otters and fund vital ocean conservation efforts.
After the global pop queen rocked Monterey Bay Aquarium’s vintage otter conservation tee in her “The Life of a Showgirl” album release movie, the aquarium was flooded with $13 donations – a nod to Swift’s signature lucky number – and pleas to revive the long-retired ‘90s design.
The aquarium heeded the hitmaker’s devoted fans and re-released the garment, first printed more than 32 years ago, on Thursday as part of a special campaign to raise $1.3 million – a goal that was surpassed in less than eight hours, according to Liz MacDonald, the aquarium’s director of content strategy.
“We definitely had a little Taylor Swift dance party in the office yesterday afternoon when we hit the goal,” MacDonald said, adding that her staff has since been speculating if the aquarium is one of the 35-year-old “Love Story” singer’s notorious Easter eggs.
“One of my favorite theories is that we have a sea otter on our exhibit whose name is Opal and she was named by the fans through an online poll, and I wonder if Taylor Swift may have been one of the people that voted for the name Opal.”
Swift’s fiancé, Travis Kelce, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, is not only a sea otter lover, but opal – his birthstone – also inspired the song “Opalite” on his future wife’s 12th studio album, which was released on Oct. 3.
MacDonald said donors who contribute at least $65.13 to help injured and orphaned otters will be mailed the T-shirt, which features two otters paddling side by side on their backs in the water, with informational boxes beneath them displaying the aquarium’s name.
However, on Friday, the aquarium began accepting back-orders due to the fundraiser’s success, according to its website.
The marine life center has since partnered with Liberty Graphics to reproduce the shirt using 100% cotton and water-based ink, which is more environmentally friendly and sustainable, MacDonald said.
“They’re a company based in Maine who were taken by surprise as us, but who are also as delighted to have this opportunity to be part of this amazing moment that does so much for sea otters and for ocean conservation,” she added.
“We’re also working to make sure that the packaging doesn’t use plastic.”
The Maine-based printing company, which has 50 employees and normally produces 1,500 shirts daily, will now focus on fulfilling T-shirt orders from devoted Swifties starting on Monday.
“We definitely didn’t envision something this big but it’s a pretty good problem to have,” manager Matt Enos said.
The Grammy winner’s “Official Release Party of a Showgirl” offered behind-the-scenes footage and Swift’s commentary on her new songs – raking in at least $50 million at the box office during its exclusive three-day run in theaters from Oct. 3 to 5.
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