Spanish fashion giant Zara has sparked outrage with its latest campaign to promote a new collection. The pictures show models wrapped in sheets, which brings to mind images of dead bodies in Israel and Palestine. “There is no unintended way.”
The photos, which have now gone viral on social media, show American model Christine McMenamy wearing several coats in a stark white room. She is surrounded by white cloth mannequins. There are also wooden crates and concrete aggregate.
In one image, which has since been removed from the campaign on Zara’s website and social media, McMenamy wears a studded leather jacket with a model wrapped in plastic floats in the background. A piece of cardboard in the background will be in the shape of a map of Palestine.
Pictures of the campaign appeared on the Internet last Friday and were widely criticized. Many social media users are even calling for a boycott of the brand. “Using death and destruction as a backdrop for fashion is absolutely horrific. This cannot be unintentional,” Palestinian artist Hazem Harb wrote on Instagram. His criticism is widely supported. “This campaign makes me sick, shame on you,” one person wrote on the X messaging service. Oh Zara.” Another said: “This is absolutely cruel, heartless and evil.”
Zara has not yet responded to the criticism, except for removing a number of photos.
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This is not the first time that the fashion giant has lost its credibility. Two years ago, Zara was embarrassed after one of its prominent employees made a series of offensive comments towards a Palestinian model. Lead designer Vanessa Perlman criticized 23-year-old Qaher Harhash in a private Instagram message for sharing his opinions on the Israel-Palestine conflict with his fans.
After all the hype, Perelman deleted her Instagram account. Zara expressed its regret for the uproar that arose and condemned the behavior of the chief designer. The response at the time was: “We will never tolerate any form of discrimination.”
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