
Italian luxury brand Gucci was forced to remove a $1250 woollen balaclava-style jumper from shelves this week after being accused of ‘blackface’.
The brand “deeply apologised” for the racial insensitivity in a statement to Twitter, writing that it “considers diversity to be a fundamental value to be fully upheld, respected, and at the forefront of every decision we make”.
Today Gucci released their Balaclava Knit Top. Sigh. Really @Gucci? Really? pic.twitter.com/ETWKFhHVEB
— Mikeisha Daché (@MikeishaDache) February 6, 2019
Gucci is not alone.
Many companies have had to pull items after being accused of racism and cultural appropriation, like Nike’s tattoo leggings and Chanel’s boomerang. Jamie Oliver was even criticised over rice.