LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

A Kansas retailer is selling 'extreme Christian' apparel.

Strongly worded religious apparel is a growing trend, said Catherine Stellin, vice president of The Intelligence Group in Los Angeles, which forecasts trends. She said Devins "is ahead of the curve" with her stores.

Teens and those in their early 20s see consumerism as a way to express convictions, she said.

"There is a little bit of shock value to this because this is a generation that feels very strong in their convictions," Stellin said. "So if they believe in something, they are going to shout it out. Subtlety is not their strong point."

Noting trends typically start on the coasts, Stellin said, "I wouldn't be surprised if it worked its way to the Midwest because the core values of religion are much stronger in the Midwest and South."

Chris Rainey, director of marketing for Kerusso, Inc., of Berryville, Arkansas, said his company's sales of various religious apparel, including T-shirts, increased by 70 percent in the fourth quarter of 2004 over the same period a year before.

"There has been such a rise in spiritual interest across the country, especially the youth looking for ways to express their faith and values," he said. "They are wearing T-shirts both as a fashion statement and a faith statement."