A teen recounts chaos at a London clothing giveaway where crowds surged, people fainted, and police intervened after damage.
A teen felt “crushed” at a London clothing giveaway and had trouble breathing due to the large crowd. Thousands gathered on Carnaby Street on Saturday.
Two streetwear brands, Up In Flames and Poser, planned it on Instagram and TikTok. They collaborated for this event, revealing the location that morning.
The small van quickly became the center of attention, giving away free clothes as people packed around it within minutes. The crowd became a crush, with some people passing out or crying.
Archie McNicol, age 16, had been to similar events before, wanting some free clothing, but said this one was “one of the worst.” The crowd grew bigger, causing issues. People reacted to police, chanting “f*** the feds,” and thousands pushed each other.
Archie was close to the van and crushed, unable to move, as people panicked nearby and some lost consciousness. He heard fireworks going off while people threw shoes and water bottles. Police climbed on the van to disperse the crowd.
The brand’s image includes “f*** the feds,” and Archie found it scary that he could not breathe. He tried to push to get out of the crowd in the chaos. He saw people crying after he escaped and tried to move away from the chanting, as customers were trapped inside nearby shops.
Some people were drawn in by the crowd’s size, unaware of the giveaway. The situation escalated when police arrived. Archie claimed officers left one car unlocked, and kids climbed on it, taking helmets and jackets, and setting off sirens.
He said police shoved people, which he thought was not helpful. Leaving a car unlocked near crowds is risky. Social media promotes these brands like Up In Flames and Poser, using giveaways to promote their brand image, with cameramen filming for social media.
Streetwear is popular in the UK, fueling kids’ desire for these limited-supply clothes. The police addressed the issue, responding to a crowd in Soho that was due to an online marketing stunt, where some damaged an unattended police vehicle.
Police arrested two boys under 16 years old, suspected of theft, damage, and affray. They were bailed as the investigation continues. Police issued a dispersal order for Westminster that evening, and no further issues were reported.