Dumbo prototyping firm Breakfast raises $36,000 for a political statement ring

After the presidential election, several of Hillary Clinton’s supporters refashioned the safety pin as a symbol of political protest (taking a page from those in the U.K. who oppose Brexit). And as many fashion trends do, the statement went commercial and upscale quite fast, leading some observers to wonder whether it had jumped the shark upon arrival.
Well, here’s an industrial-inspired alternative, courtesy of Dumbo’s Breakfast, which develops connected devices such as smart directional signs and interactive display systems made out of flip discs. The firm raised more than $36,000 on Indiegogo, exceeding its goal by more than 200 percent, to produce a ring called Blue, which is meant to convey protest against President-elect Donald Trump. It sells for $20.
“In the aftermath of the most recent election, Blue is an anodized aluminum ring for those looking to wear their views out in the open, while helping to support the causes that are under threat from this new presidency,” the description on Blue’s campaign page reads.
The ring has a simple design: it’s made of blue anodized aluminum, similar to the finish of an iPhone, and its band is available in three- and six-millimeter widths. It won’t be made in Brooklyn, however, at least not for its first run. Instead, Breakfast has turned to production shops in Connecticut and Queens, which happens to be the president-elect’s borough of origin. (At least it’s doing its part to make American manufacturing great again.)
Breakfast is donating the profits from Blue to five nonprofit organizations: the ACLU, Environmental Defense Fund, Everytown for Gun Safety, GLAAD and Planned Parenthood. According to the firm, these organizations represent causes that it believes Trump threatens: civil liberties, climate change, gun control, LGBTQ rights and women’s rights. Each $20 ring yields about a $15 profit, according to the campaign page. Breakfast has donated $15,000 in total to the five organizations so far.
Though the initial crowdfunding campaign has ended, Breakfast is still taking orders for the rings through Indiegogo’s InDemand feature. Breakfast will make an additional nonprofit donation once it has finalized production and shipping.