Burberry have issued an apology after they debuted a hoodie with the strings tied into a noose at London Fashion Week.
Sunday’s show, which featured a model wearing the garment on the runway, leading to much criticism as many social media users – and those who walked at Fashion Week – complained that it was inappropriate and offensive.
Stating that the hoodie trivialised suicide and lynchings, many others questioned how the piece had been approved in the first place.
Model Liz Kennedy took to Instagram following the show to address the issue, stating: “Suicide is not fashion.”
She wrote that she had been incredibly upset by the piece due to the history of suicide in her family.
She also questioned why a show seemingly dedicated to “young girls and youth” would make light of suicide in a way that was not “glamorous nor edgy.”
“Riccardo Tisci and everyone at Burberry,” she said, “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.”
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Kennedy went on to say that a brand like Burberry “who is typically considered commercial and classy” should not have allowed something like this to appear at Fashion Week.
She said that she talked to somebody about the piece before the show and she was told to “write a letter.” She was also told: ‘it’s fashion. Nobody cares what’s going on in your personal life so just keep it to yourself.'”
“I’m sorry,” she said, “but this is an issue bigger than myself.”
“The issue is not about me being upset (…) A look so ignorantly put together and a situation so poorly handled.
“I am ashamed to have been a part of the show.”
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Burberry have since apologised for the piece, saying that it was supposed to represent the collection’s “marine theme.”
“We are deeply sorry for the distress caused by one of the products that featured in our A/W 2019 runway collection Tempest,” a statement reads.
“Though the design was inspired by the marine theme that ran throughout the collection, it was insensitive and we made a mistake.”
The hoodie has been removed from Burberry’s Tempest collection.
