Gucci is facing backlash for its recently showcased “Indy Full Turban”, priced at nearly US$800 by retailer Nordstrom, for the product’s appropriation of Sikh religion and practices.
Sikhs were quick to point out that Gucci’s product trivialises the dastaar (turban) as an overpriced “hot new accessory” for white models, while ignoring the garment’s cultural significance and the fact that Sikhs are still “discriminated against, even killed” for expressing their faith.
One critic of Gucci’s actions offered to “arrange free lessons in Turban tying in most places and provide cloth material” to highlight Gucci’s hefty commodification of the religious garment, while others recommended reading an informative listicle to those unfamiliar to the garment’s meaning.
It's not the first time a high-end fashion house has courted controversy.
Dolce & Gabbana's 'racist' promo videos
In late 2018, Dolce & Gabbana received criticism over racially offensive Instagram videos uploaded ahead of a long-planned fashion show in Shanghai. The videos, which involved a giggling Chinese woman struggling to eat Italian food with chopsticks, were underlaid by Eurocentric tropes of the west “teaching” the east and included demeaning innuendo like “it’s still way too big for you, isn’t it?”
Widespread backlash, including criticism by influential Chinese figures, lead to the cancellation of the Shanghai fashion show. Leaked messages from Dolce & Gabbana co-founder Stefano Gabbana revealed him describing China through a series of poop emojis.
Dolce & Gabbana are still feeling the after effects of their blunder. Chinese online retailers like Alibaba’s TMall still haven’t reintroduced Dolce & Gabbana products, Chinese luxury department stores have pulled the brand from their shops, and latest issues of influential local magazines like Vogue China no longer feature the Italian brand’s ads or products. Abroad, not a single prominent celebrity wore Dolce & Gabbana at the 2019 Oscars.
Burberry: 'noose neck' hoodie
Earlier this year, Burberry were pushed to apologise after showcasing a hoodie featuring a noose during its 2019 London Fashion Week show. In their statement, Burberry chief executive Marco Gobetti claims the design was “inspired by the marine theme that ran throughout the collection”, but commenters on social media say the noose-style knot was too specific to be coincidental.
Model Liz Kennedy, who participated in the show, wrote an Instagram post condemning the fashion house, highlighting the insensitivity of the noose’s inclusion and how it distressed her personally after her own experience with suicide within her family. Kennedy also claims that when she raised her concerns to her superiors, she was dismissed with “it’s fashion. Nobody cares about what’s going on in your personal life so just keep it to yourself”.
Dr Antonis Kousoulis of the Mental Health Foundation told Huffington Post influential brands like Burberry have a responsibility to adhere to standards around suicide and be mindful of how their imagery impacts audiences. “There are thousands of people who have been impacted by suicide. At the very least, brands should be thoughtful that images can be triggering.”
Burberry has since pledged to give employees mandatory training on mental health sensitivity and increase its support for charity the Samaritans.
The Chanel boomerang. Source: Supplied
Chanel's $2000 boomerang
In 2017 Chanel came under fire for appropriating Indigenous Australian culture by selling a boomerang that retailed for almost $2000. The product came to prominence when American makeup artist Jeffree Star posted images of it on his social media pages.
Proud Gomeroi woman Madeline Hayman-Reber said the controversy highlights the broader issue of fake art and how it negatively impacts Aboriginal artists. “Our artists spend hours and hours telling stories more than 50,000 years old,” she says. “The label may say 'boomerang' and it bears the same iconic curve, but it comes with no story, no experience and quite frankly, is a slap in the face to all the Indigenous artists actively sharing Aboriginal culture.”
