KUALA LUMPUR – Fast fashion brand Zara appears to have defended its highly criticised “Atelier” collection, which recently courted controversy for allegedly evoking the ongoing death and destruction in Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine war.
In a post on its official Instagram page today, the Spanish-owned multinational brand made no mention of an apology, but instead took the opportunity to pin the blame on customers who may have “misunderstood” the collection’s visuals.
“The campaign, (which) was conceived in July and photographed in September, presents a series of images of unfinished sculptures in a sculptor’s studio and was created with the sole purpose of showcasing craftmade garments in an artistic context.
“Unfortunately, some customers felt offended by these images, which have now been removed, and saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created,” the chain said in the post, which has garnered over 100,600 comments as of press time.
Noting that it regrets the misunderstanding, it also “reaffirmed (its) deep respect for everyone.”
Earlier today, it was reported that the collection had been removed from the front page of Zara’s website and app amid boycott calls.
Parent company Inditex said that refreshing content on the site and app is part of its normal procedure.
Launched on December 7, the collection was said to be inspired by men’s tailoring from past centuries, with photos set in a supposed art studio with ladders, packing materials, wooden crates and assistants wearing overalls.
However, critics noted the use of rubble, a wooden box resembling a coffin, dummies or sculptures wrapped in white burial shrouds, and a suspended piece of cardboard or plaster that appears strikingly similar in shape to the map of Palestine.
Another image, now deleted from Zara’s social media platforms but screen captured by angry netizens, showed a model carrying a human-like figure fully wrapped in white material, akin to shrouds used in Islamic burials.
The collection, of six jackets, is priced from US$229 (RM1,072) for a grey wool blazer with chunky knit sleeves, to US$799 for a studded leather jacket.
This is not the first time Zara has received public backlash as social media users had previously called for its boycott in October last year after the brand’s Israeli franchise holder Joey Schwebel hosted an anti-Palestinian Knesset member, Itamar Ben-Gvir, for a campaign event.
Ben-Gvir had previously urged East Jerusalem settlers and police to shoot at Palestinians who threw stones at its occupation forces. – December 12, 2023