Keep up with the latest fashion and more by subscribing to our complimentary Lifestyle Edit newsletter every week.
Be ahead of the curve in both fashion and other areas with our complimentary weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter.
Zara has removed an advertisement campaign that was considered controversial and criticized for trivializing the conflict in Gaza.
The popular clothing brand expressed remorse for a misinterpretation of the images used in their recent campaign for “The Jacket”. The photos were mistakenly likened to those coming out of the conflict-ridden Gaza.
The ongoing violent struggle between Israel and Hamas, initiated on October 7th, has resulted in the deaths of approximately 18,000 individuals, including men, women, and children, in the besieged region.
In certain campaign photos, American supermodel Kristen McMenamy was depicted with a mannequin covered in white fabric. Other images show her amidst statues with absent body parts and damaged plasterboard, or positioned within a wooden box resembling a coffin.
On Instagram on Tuesday (12 December), Zara released a statement clarifying that the photoshoot was planned and captured prior to the start of the war. The location was intended to mimic a sculptor’s workshop.
The company owned by Inditex stated that its main goal was to showcase “handmade clothing in a creative setting.” However, they have since taken down the images after receiving feedback from customers who were offended.
“The marketing campaign, which was conceptualized in July and photographed in September, features a collection of photographs depicting unfinished sculptures in a sculptor’s studio. Its main objective is to highlight the artistry of handcrafted garments,” stated the post shared on Zara’s social media platforms.
“Regrettably, these images have caused offense to certain customers and have been removed. They were not created with the intention to be interpreted in the way that some have perceived them.”
Zara apologizes for the miscommunication and we want to reiterate our sincere respect for everyone involved.
On Monday (11 December), the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, X, saw the hashtag #BoycottZara become a trending topic. The campaign was heavily criticized online for being “inhumane” and “tone-deaf.”
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a journalist, stated: “Zara deserves the award for the most tone-deaf brand of the year.”
The Advertising Standards Authority of the UK reported receiving more than 110 complaints about the campaign being offensive due to its mention of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
According to reports, Zara stores in Montreal, Canada, were vandalized with pro-Palestine graffiti following the launch of a controversial campaign.
On October 7, Hamas initiated an assault on Israel resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals.
The Israeli government conducted counter-attacks that resulted in the deaths of over 17,700 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled region. The majority of those killed were women and children, making up about two-thirds of the total casualties.
Further coverage on the wires.
Source: independent.co.uk
