Burberry debuts noose on brown hoodie during London Fashion Week Show
Burberry is the latest fashion brand embroiled in controversy after sending a model down the runway wearing a hoodie with a noose during London Fashion Week show.
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On Sunday, the racist rope was included in Burberry’s Autumn/Winter collection, named “Tempest.” The noose has now been removed the retailer’s collection, Burberry announced after outraged ensued online. The company has since apologized saying:
“We are deeply sorry for the distress caused by one of the products that featured in our A/W 2019 runway collection,” Marco Gobbetti, Burberry chief executive officer, said in a statement provided to CNN.
Y’all have lost your goddamned minds. “Fashion brand Burberry has apologized for showcasing a hoodie that featured a noose around the neck during its show at London Fashion Week.” https://t.co/UShcg3AakZ pic.twitter.com/E7Y7GbSII9
— Saeed Jones (@theferocity) February 19, 2019
“Though the design was inspired by the marine theme that ran throughout the collection, it was insensitive and we made a mistake,” he added.
While most would view the symbol as a racist bow to a hateful history, model Liz Kennedy said she criticized the tone-deaf piece for mocking suicide.
“Suicide is not fashion,” Kennedy wrote on Instagram. “It is beyond me how you could let a look resembling a noose hanging from a neck out on the runway.”
To add insult, Kennedy said behind the scenes, the fashion show staff were hanging nooses from a ceiling as if it was a joke.
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Riccardo Tisci, the show’s designer and Burberry’s chief creative officer said: “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,” he added.
This latest controversy arrives on the heels of fashion brands Prada and Gucci being blasted for using blackface imagery in their designs.
