Baltimore HUD Homes NEWS

The rise of pants campaigns

What with the tide of western commercialism that has been sweeping over Russia these past few years,

it was only a matter of time. A 20-year-old fashion designer linked to the Kremlin has designed some Putin-supporting underwear. (Not literally, as far as we know.

These knickers are strictly for girls.)Antonia Shapovalova, "a commissar in the pro-Kremlin movement Nashi", has designed the lingerie with a view to persuading the young ladies of Russia to have more babies.

We could point out that printing "Vova [Putin's nickname], I'm with you," across the front of a tiny pair of briefs might in fact have the opposite effect, disconcerting, for example, the men required to help produce these babies, but that would be quite cruel to a young designer just starting out