Central St Martin’s fashion student Mhari Thurston-Tyler, who sewed together two Chiltern Railway social distancing signs to make the top, has been warned the item ‘violated’ Depop’s rules
A Depop seller who flogged a crop top made out of a ‘”social distancing” train seat cover has been warned not to post prohibited items on the fashion app.
Central St Martins fashion student Mhari Thurston-Tyler baffled social media users when she posted an ad for the bandeau made out of a Chiltern Railways seat sleeve.
The second-hand clothes service has now confirmed the top “violates the terms of service” after the 20-year-old sold it for £15.
Mhari claims she found the two blue seat signs “balled up on the floor” outside Marylebone tube station in September.
She has since refunded the buyer and taken down the questionable post, which read: “Social distancing children railways crop got a few of these in different sizes. Message me before buying or with questions/offers.”
The ad went viral within hours after Twitter account Depop drama shared it with the caption: “I am lost for words.”
Thousands took to social media to voice their thoughts about the top, with one user commenting: “A rags to riches story, I’m screaming.”
Another branded it “the worst thing I’ve ever seen on Depop.”
But in the latest twist in the tale, the seller has said she wants to take advantage of the “hype” and start making her own line of crop tops emblazoned with the words “children railways.”
Ms Thurston-Tyler told the BBC: “I have no money at the moment so decided to put the second one on Depop to see if anyone would buy it,” she said, adding that the app had become her main source of income as she has struggled to find other work during the pandemic.
“I have to resort to little things like this to make ends meet, to pay the bills.”
A Depop spokesperson said Ms Thurston-Tyler would be banned from the platform if she listed any other prohibited goods.
“We explicitly prohibit the sale of illegal and unlawful content on the app, including any stolen goods,” they said.
“This item clearly violates our terms of service, but as it has been removed by the seller and is no longer for sale on the platform, we will not be taking immediate steps to ban this user.
Chiltern Railways said it has been using the social distancing “seat sashes” since the beginning of the UK’s Covid epidemic.
The blue signs read: “Keep this seat free to maintain social distancing when possible”.
A spokeswoman added: “Whilst we appreciate this new take on railway memorabilia, these items are there to help customers travel with confidence and we would respectfully ask that they are left in place.”
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