Pacific Grove business creates clothing inspired by Navy secretary’s ‘witchcraft’ comments

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. —

A Pacific Grove business owner is putting her own spin on acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao’s controversial comments about the Monterey Peninsula, turning the viral remarks into a new locally inspired clothing collection.

Ally Wieland, owner of The Vague Collection, said the idea came after a customer suggested creating something based on Cao’s comments about Lovers Point and witchcraft.

“This came about because obviously the clip had gone viral, kind of resurfaced, and I had a customer come to me and say, ‘This would be so funny, and I feel like you would do this in the Vague way,'” Wieland said.

Cao made the comments in 2023 while running for U.S. Senate in Virginia. The remarks resurfaced locally after he became acting secretary of the Navy.

“There’s a place in Monterey, California, called Lovers Point. The original name was Lovers of Christ Point. But now it’s become — they took out the Christ — it’s Lovers Point. Monterey is a really dark place now, a lot of witchcraft. The Wiccan community has really taken over there,” Cao said at the time.

Lovers Point is actually in Pacific Grove, not Monterey. The area was also once known as “Lovers of Jesus Point,” rather than “Lovers of Christ Point.”

Wieland said she wanted the new collection to reference the viral moment without making the design overly literal.

“I could have very easily put a witch’s face or something, but it’s almost too literal,” Wieland said. “My girls are pretty sarcastic, and we have kind of a good dry humor around here.”

Wieland said she had been holding onto the idea for several months with plans to release it closer to the fall season.

The sweatshirts are being offered in two colors, cypress green and driftwood, a sandy neutral color. The pieces are being embroidered by Sports Design, a Santa Cruz business.

Wieland said the collaboration means purchases support two Central Coast small businesses.

“We’ve gotten tons of preorders,” Wieland said. “Obviously, in this case you would be supporting two different small businesses, right? My own and Sports Design in Santa Cruz.”

She said the collection has also generated significant attention online and from people stopping by the studio to try on samples.

Wieland said the humor surrounding the viral comments made them a natural fit for her brand.

“We love a funny inside joke around here,” Wieland said. “I’m glad I was able to give the girls something they wanted.”

The limited-edition crewneck is available for preorder in sizes extra small through 2XL and comes in two colors. According to The Vague Collection, the preorder period closes Aug. 16, and the design will not be restocked once orders close.

The unisex crewneck is made from 75% cotton and 25% polyester, with orders expected to arrive in mid-September. Customers can choose free shipping or local pickup, and sample sizes are available to try on at the studio.

The collection is the latest local response to Cao’s remarks.

In May, more than a dozen people dressed in witch-themed outfits gathered at Lovers Point for a paddle-out on Beltane, a pagan holiday. Participants said the gathering was held in direct response to Cao’s characterization of the area as “a really dark place” with “a lot of witchcraft.”

A “Witches of Monterey” web game also appeared following Cao’s comments, satirizing his remarks and incorporating references to Lovers Point and the Monterey Peninsula.