LOS ANGELES – Redemption for Bernard L. Madoff, sitting in a North Carolina prison serving a 150-year sentence for financial fraud, is unlikely.

But his pants still have a chance.

Wall Street denizens are snapping up covers for Apple’s iPad tablet made from the Ponzi scheme mastermind’s clothes, which were sold at auction last year. Proceeds benefit victims of white-collar crime.

A new company, Frederick James, offers certificates of authenticity along with the lightweight sleeves that are designed to protect the tablets from scratches, though not from drops like, say, the kind that hit Madoff victims’ bank accounts.

For $250, buyers can grab one of four covers made from an off-white pair of Madoff’s J. Crew cotton khaki pants.

Other options, for up to $500, are made with pants from Banana Republic, Ralph Lauren and others.

An initial batch sold out within a day through word of mouth among Wall Street regulars, designer John Vaccaro said.

“People just find it really fascinating and interesting,” he said. “And with the financial markets this week, it was almost perfectly timed.”

 

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