
Screen shot 2019 02 19 at 2 43 14 pm
To continue reading
Create a free account or sign in to unlock more free articles.
By continuing, you agree to the Terms of Service and acknowledge our Privacy Policy
Register
The content is free, but you must be subscribed to Okayplayer to continue reading.
THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBING
Join our newsletter family to stay tapped into the latest in Hip Hop culture!
Login
To continue reading login to your account.
Forgot your password?
Please enter the email address you use for your account so we can send you a link to reset your password:
\u201cAnother day, another fashion ~apology~. \n\nBurberry's Riccardo Tisci has apologized for featuring a hoodie with a drawstring resembling a noose on his FW19 runway: "While the design was inspired by a nautical theme, I realize that it was insensitive."\u201d— \u039evan Ross Katz (@\u039evan Ross Katz) 1550596285
Burberry is the latest brand to make a fashion faux pas at the expense of marginalized groups. The
After showcasing a hoodie that featured a noose around the neck during its show at London Fashion Week, the luxury brand apologized and removed the item from its collection following criticisms of invoking racism and insensitivity to suicide.
READ: Gucci Creative Director Issues Apology Letter For Blackface Sweater
Model Liz Kennedy criticized the brand with a post on Instagram, saying, "I left my fitting extremely triggered after seeing this look."
"Suicide is not fashion. It is not glamorous nor edgy and since this show is dedicated to the youth expressing their voice, here I go. Riccardo Tisci and everyone at Burberry it is beyond me how you could let a look resembling a noose hanging from a neck out on the runway. How could anyone overlook this and think it would be okay to do this especially in a line dedicated to young girls and youth. The impressionable youth. Not to mention the rising suicide rates world wide. Let’s not forget about the horrifying history of lynching either."
Burberry's chief executive officer Marco Gobbetti released a statement to CNN on Tuesday, saying, "We are deeply sorry for the distress caused by one of the products that featured in our A/W 2019 runway collection," adding "Though the design was inspired by the marine theme that ran throughout the collection, it was insensitive and we made a mistake."
READ: T.I. Drops Floyd Mayweather Diss, "F*ck N*gga", Over Gucci Controversy
Burberry CEO Marco Gobbetti told Highsnobiety, "The experience Ms. Kennedy describes does not reflect who we are and our values. We will reflect on this, learn from it and put in place all necessary actions to ensure it does not happen again.”
Riccardo Tisci, Gucci's chief creative officer released a statement to CNN saying, “I am so deeply sorry for the distress that has been caused as a result of one of the pieces in my show on Sunday. While the design was inspired by a nautical theme, I realize that it was insensitive. It was never my intention to upset anyone. It does not reflect my values nor Burberry’s and we have removed it from the collection. I will make sure that this does not happen again.”
Absent from the brand's statements are direct apologies for the noose hoodie's racist imagery.
This Burberry gaffe follows a string of other recent fashion controversies anchored by racist imagery and insensitivity from brands like Gucci, Moncler, Prada, and Katy Perry's collection.
Many online critics believe the transgressions are intentional efforts to garner publicity and traction from public outrage.
\u201cBurberry - Noose Hoodie\nGucci - Blackface Turtleneck\nMoncler - Blackface Bubble Jacket\nPrada - Blackface Purse Decorations\nKaty Perry Collection - Blackface Heels\n\nIt\u2019s intentional, boycotting designers increases publicity, which increases profit! They are making a fool of us!\u201d— Jerome Trammel, MBA (@Jerome Trammel, MBA) 1550602307
\u201cBurberry got the noose on the Hoodie. It seems European fashion designers is tryna one up each other during Black History Month. Smh.\u201d— IG: Mickey.Factz (@IG: Mickey.Factz) 1550594961