This overly PC world is always complaining about fashion that resembles less pleasant memories of the past. However, sometimes fashion giants are coming up with designs which are just plain wrong. Burberry is one example, as its top bosses had to apologise this week for images of a model wearing one of their hoodies, with a cord, shaped like a noose hanging over the chest area. They literally hanged themselves with their own mistake.

London Fashion Week reveals hoodie horror

The offensive hoodie was revealed at Burberry’s London Fashion Week show on Sunday.

Strangely enough, the initial bad reaction to the hoodie and its noose-like drawstring emanated from one of the company’s own models. After hearing the reaction, Burberry immediately dropped the hoodie from its Autumn-Winter collection.

As reported by CBS News, Burberry CEO Marco Gobbetti wrote in an email that the company was “deeply sorry” for the distress caused by the hoodie which was featured in its 2019 Tempest runway collection.

He explained that the idea of the noose design was inspired by a marine theme which runs through the Tempest collection, but Gobbetti now realises it was “insensitive” and that the company had made a mistake.

Riccardo Tisci, the fashion giant’s creative director, also made a statement to apologise for the gaff.

He also stressed that the design emanated from a nautical theme, and he also realises it was an insensitive move. Tisci said his intention was never to upset anyone, adding that it did not reflect either his values or the company’s, adding that the hoodie has now been removed from their collection.

Model objects to hoodie on Instagram

The Times reports that while she did not wear the outfit, it was model Liz Kennedy who initially posted an objection to the product on Instagram. Kennedy went on to write that “Suicide is not fashion.”

She added that the theme of suicide is not “glamorous nor edgy,” saying the show had been dedicated to younger people, expressing their voice. She told Riccardo Tisci and others at Burberry that it was beyond her that they could allow a look which resembles a noose hanging from the neck onto the runway.

Kennedy said she blamed Burberry’s leadership for ignoring the “impressionable youth,” pointing to the horrifying history of lynching in the world. She continued by saying she had been “extremely triggered” by the noose on the hoodie for personal reasons.

Her family has a history with suicide and seeing the hoodie took her right back to that.

Kennedy went on to write that she had tried to speak to someone about the offensive outfit but had been told to write a letter, telling her that no one cares about what has happened in her personal life and that she should keep it to herself. She wrote a letter, alright, but publicly, on Instagram instead of mailed in an envelope. In part of his statement, Gobbetti did say he had later called Kennedy to make his apologies.

The full fashion show can be watched here, including the offending hoodie with the noose-like drawstring.

Blackface makes for red faces

This isn’t the latest fashion faux pas to cause upset, as Gucci last week withdrew a black, polo neck balaclava jersey which featured large red lips surrounding the mouth opening.

Critics instantly likened the jersey to a blackface image.

Even more recent was a collection of shoes by the Katy Perry Collection which featured big red lips against a black background. Prada last year also withdrew a line of its merchandise which featured monkeys sporting black faces and red lips. As noted in the tweet above, Moncler also got in trouble over a "Blackface Bubble Jacket."
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