20 Feb, 2019 17:17

‘Suicide is not fashion’: Burberry apologizes for hoodie with noose at London Fashion Week

Fashion giant Burberry has apologized after featuring a hoodie with a noose around the neck during its showcase at London Fashion Week, spark a wave of outrage over insensitivity towards suicide and racism.

One of its own models, Liz Kennedy, lambasted the brand for whom she is an ambassador, decrying both main connotations of the offending noose, saying: “Suicide is not fashion... Let’s not forget about the horrifying history of lynching either.”

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@burberry @riccardotisci17 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. There are hundreds of ways to tie a rope and they chose to tie it like a noose completely ignoring the fact that it was hanging around a neck. A massive brand like Burberry who is typically considered commercial and classy should not have overlooked such an obvious resemblance. I left my fitting extremely triggered after seeing this look (even though I did not wear it myself). Feeling as though I was right back where I was when I was going through an experience with suicide in my family. Also to add in they briefly hung one from the ceiling (trying to figure out the knot) and were laughing about it in the dressing room. I had asked to speak to someone about it but the only thing I was told to do was to write a letter. I had a brief conversation with someone but all that it entailed was “it’s fashion. Nobody cares about what’s going on in your personal life so just keep it to yourself” well I’m sorry but this is an issue bigger than myself. The issue is not about me being upset, there is a bigger picture here of what fashion turns a blind eye to or does to gain publicity. A look so ignorantly put together and a situation so poorly handled. I am ashamed to have been apart of the show. #burberry. I did not post this to disrespect the designer or the brand but to simply express an issue I feel very passionate about.
A post shared by 🦎 (@liz.kennedy_) on Feb 17, 2019 at 9:51am PST

Kennedy wrote that she was “extremely triggered” by the hoodie, recalling her own family’s experience with suicide, and claims she was told to write an email when she tried to complain in the dressing room during the show.

Burberry CEO Marco Gobbetti apologized on behalf of the brand saying Burberry was “deeply sorry for the distress” caused and that “It was insensitive and we made a mistake.”

“We will reflect on this, learn from it and put in place all necessary actions to ensure it does not happen again,” he added in a written statement.

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This is getting outta hand!! #BurberryHoodie #BurberryNoose #Interesting #ButWhy
A post shared by President Jon Adams (@presidentjonadams) on Feb 20, 2019 at 3:44am PST

The hoodie appeared the catwalk on Sunday as part of Burberry’s ‘Tempest’ collection and has caused a flood of outrage online ever since, with many highlighting the recent slew of offensive gaffes in the fashion industry including Katy Perry’s blackface shoes, Gucci’s blackface jumper and Zara’s holocaust shirts, among others.

#Burberry to #Gucci.....”I raise you one noose” 🤯🤯🤯😡😡😡 who thought this was a good idea 🤔 pic.twitter.com/8gDH4Z1lN7
— ♑ Vanilla Caramel ♑ (@BayouBelle985) February 19, 2019

I am a creative person, I was raised by artists. I really get artistic passage. But, something like this is just so overtly stupid. Haven't they learned from prior #fashion campaigns, like the @ZARA #holocaust shirts? #Burberry #BurberryNoose https://t.co/dP3BCYnF8V
— Rena Silverman (@Rena_Silverman) February 20, 2019

These people behind Burberry call themselves designers/creative people? The need to stay “relevant” for what/for whom? The only trend that stays in fashion. Imitation and exploitation. #Burberry @Burberry https://t.co/2cFHaBqUaM
— nikki luna (@nikkiluna) February 20, 2019

What year is this!? The “noose” is a historic symbol of hate, division, murder and injustice and should NEVER be categorized as a fashion statement. Shame on #Burberry #Gucci #Prada #NeverForget https://t.co/EwzeuDiIgi
— Adriano Espaillat (@RepEspaillat) February 20, 2019

Not all online were entirely convinced of the allegedly racist overtones of the garment, but agreed it was insensitive nonetheless. Others called for a boycott of the fashion brand.

People were taken to the gallows and hung for crimes long before there was slavery in the US, and people also use nooses to kill themselves every day around the world. Not everything is racist at its core. Some people are fucked up for other reasons. #burberry
— Carissa Pavlica (@CarissaPavlica) February 19, 2019

I’m not a #Burberry fan (their stuff tends to look really cheap considering how expensive it is) but if you are please consider withdrawing your custom ⬇️ #BoycottBurberry https://t.co/HxSlsTYokP
— Natasha Devon MBE (@_NatashaDevon) February 20, 2019

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