Gucci apologizes for sweater resembling blackface, stops selling balaclava jumper
After Gucci's wool balaclava jumper sparked outrage on social media for appearing to mimic blackface, the company has apologized and removed the product.
The piece from Gucci's Fall Winter 2018 runway show looks like a black turtleneck that is worn up over the nose, with a red-lined cutout for customers' mouths. It was inspired by "vintage ski masks," according to its product description, which says it could also be worn just around the neck. The price: $890.
Amid Black History Month, social media users pointed out that the sweater could be seen as a depiction of blackface.
Wednesday, Gucci issued a statement on Twitter apologizing for "offense" caused by the sweater, saying "we consider diversity to be a fundamental value to be fully upheld, respected, and at the forefront of every decision we make." The company said it has removed the product from its physical and online stores, and is "learning" from this incident.
While the sweater appears to be unavailable on the Gucci website, photos and a description of the item are still visible on some digital retail sites such as Spring.
So @gucci puts out a sweater that looks like blackface......
On Black History Month....
And then issues an apology because they didn't know that blackface images are racist.
🤦🏿♂️ pic.twitter.com/G3HjPTIuuQ— Tariq Nasheed (@tariqnasheed) February 7, 2019
Back in December Prada had to apologize for a racially insensitive monkey keychain, and now Gucci had to apologize for a black face sweater. Apparently luxury brands are recruiting designers from Virginia. pic.twitter.com/SN9NWU6E93
— Christopher Bouzy (@cbouzy) February 7, 2019
When you add lips to an all black face garment, it takes on another connotation. We did not create our perceptions towards blackface , racism did. So please respect that my people are offended.
— Mrs Tyson-DeJesus (@TysonTalksTV) February 7, 2019
More: Why blackface just won't go away
Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gucci apologizes for sweater resembling blackface, stops selling balaclava jumper