Burberry Apologizes For Noose-Adorned Hoodie

Yet another misstep by a global fashion step, this time by Burberry, whose lead creative. Riccardo Tisci, is definitely someone one would assume knows better. The label was called out for a hoodie detailed with noose (of all things!) by model Liz Kennedy, who walked the label’s fall 2019 runway in London on Sunday (February 17, 2019).

Burberry responded to the push back with an apology. In a statement, Burberry CEO Marco Gobbetti stated, “We are deeply sorry for the distress caused by one of the products that featured in our [fall] 2019 runway collection. Though the design was inspired by the marine theme that ran throughout the collection, it was insensitive and we made a mistake.”

On Instagram, Kennedy wrote, “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 noose controversy follows blackface controversy at Prada and Gucci plus a blow up over Adidas’ decision to include an all-white shoe in a Black History Month capsule. All of these events have occurred less than three months into 2019, enough so that it’s hard not at least consider accusations the labels are creating controversy intentionally as part of a marketing plan.

Fashion month is just about halfway over. It’d be great if Burberry’s screw up marks the last of this season’s easily prevented controversies, but the chances of that at the moment seems very small.

 

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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