Adidas scrambles to make more ‘Boston Stands as One’ t-shirts after selling out within days of marathon bombing

Just after 9-11, thousands of people donned the iconic I Heart N.Y. T-shirt to express solidarity with the victims and support a grieving city.

Just days after the Boston Marathon bombings, thousands of people are doing the same for Beantown.

Adidas, an official sponsor of the marathon for 25 years, has rushed to release a special “Boston Stands As One” tee and as Businessweek reports, they’re struggling to keep up with demand as shirts completely sold out on their first day. All proceeds from the US $26.25 shirt go to the One Fund Boston, a charity set up to help the bombing victims and their families on the long road ahead.

“Efforts are being made to restock so that together we can continue to help those affected by the tragic events in Boston,” an Adidas spokesperson tells Businessweek. “In the meantime, we are asking everyone to continue to show support by donating directly.”

Also see: Boston Marathon victim searches for rescuer -- and finds him

So far the charity has raised millions in direct donations, including an astonishing US $7 million within 24 hours of the event. Adidas is also scrambling to pump out more shirts to meet overwhelming demand.

A Maine-based couple has also created a “Boston Strong” t-shirt to meet a similar goal and legendary Boston band the Dropkick Murphys has raised over $100,000 so far with special “For Boston” shirts available on their website.

Commemorative T-shirts have long been used as a means to raise funds for a particular charitable cause.

After Hurricane Sandy slammed the eastern seaboard last fall, a group of Yale students released a $40 t-shirt designed to benefit those affected by the storm.

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And 2011’s devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan resulted in a flurry of tees meant to provide financial aid to those who lost everything.

Some have argued these charity T-shirts are little more than empty, commerce-driven gestures designed for publicity and profit rather than any sort of altruistic motive. It's an interesting and important conversation.

But if they can provide victims with any relief at all in those first vulnerable days, whether that relief is economic or emotional in nature, it's hard to dismiss their value.