Gucci just apologized for ANOTHER racially insensitive accessory—because apparently the “blackface sweater” incident wasn’t enough
Over the past few years, several high-fashion brands have been slammed for cultural appropriation and racism in their designs. In February, Gucci was forced to apologize for selling a sweater and accessories that resembled a Jim Crow-era blackface caricature. Now, the company is once again drawing criticism for cultural insensitivity—this time for selling a “turban.”
People.com reports that the design, originally named “Indy Full Turban” was featured in the brand’s Milan Fashion Week Show for its fall-winter 2018 collection—worn by a white model. But the design reignited controversy when Twitter users discovered that it was being sold at Nordstrom for $790. The description of the product billed it as a “gorgeously crafted turban.”
Gucci’s design struck many as offensive because turbans are religious garments worn by practicing Sikhs. The Sikh Coalition notes that “wearing a turban asserts a public commitment to maintaining the values and ethics of the tradition, including service, compassion, and honesty.”
"The turban is not just a fashion accessory to monetize, but a religious article of faith that millions of Sikhs around the world view as sacred," the Sikh Coalition told NBC News in a statement.
On Twitter, users spoke out against Gucci for monetizing a part of this faith tradition.
Does anyone wanna explain to me why @gucci thought selling a turban for $790 was a good idea? @Nordstrom
This isn't a "trademark style." This is not some "fashion accessory."
This is just very-off. pic.twitter.com/hVBIVvb9Ic
— Naureen Singh (@Naureenksingh) May 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/1128118481822470144
Dear NON-SIKHS …. don’t waste $750 buying a fake n fancy @gucci turban from @Nordstrom !! You can inbox me your location and I can arrange FREE lessons in Turban tying in most places and provide cloth material..FREE ! Any colour ..@cnni @AJEnglish @jonsnowC4 pic.twitter.com/olrE5z1JYR
— ravinder singh (@RaviSinghKA) May 14, 2019
false
Ok my people did not go through genocide, racism, and degradation for Gucci to sell this “indy turban” for $800 pic.twitter.com/RHfbV65KZJ
— @bee (@dumbitchenergy) May 16, 2019
One of the reasons Sikhs wear turbans is to promote equality. It is insulting to first simplify our religion into a fashion accessory and secondly sell it for hundreds of dollars. The wrap of the turban is done in Sikhi style, this is not cultural but #ReligiousAppropriation.
— Kash Singh (@kash_singh_) May 15, 2019
Shame on @gucci for using our identity as a fasion accessory and shame on @Nordstrom for giving @gucci the platform to sell it. #appropriation #hurtful #unacceptable
— Aasees Kaur (@SouthernSikh) May 14, 2019
STOP. FUCKING. WITH. @gucci. Get it through y’all brains; they are the epitome of rich white people taking what’s not theirs (or even things that are just downright offensive) from smaller communities and calling it a “fashion statement ”, or an “Indy turban”. Stop wearing it. pic.twitter.com/y34bPaxUlt
— 🇬🇧L A U R E N🇺🇸 (@Londons_Legacy) May 16, 2019
Dear @gucci, the Sikh Turban is not a hot new accessory for white models but an article of faith for practising Sikhs. Your models have used Turbans as ‘hats’ whereas practising Sikhs tie them neatly fold-by-fold. Using fake Sikhs/Turbans is worse than selling fake Gucci products pic.twitter.com/sOaKgNmgwR
— Harjinder Singh Kukreja (@SinghLions) May 16, 2019
The Sikh Coalition told HuffPost that it had contacted both Gucci and Nordstrom about the offensive item of clothing. On May 16th, Nordstrom tweeted that it would stop carrying the product in a reply to one user.
"It was never our intent to disrespect this religious and cultural symbol," the company's reply read. "We sincerely apologize to anyone who may have been offended by this."
We have decided to stop carrying this product and have removed it from the site. It was never our intent to disrespect this religious and cultural symbol. We sincerely apologize to anyone who may have been offended by this.
— Nordstrom (@Nordstrom) May 16, 2019
After the blackface sweater fiasco, Gucci announced that it would work to hire more diverse employees. It also created a new position, “Global Director for Diversity and Inclusion,” to work on the brand’s diversity and inclusion strategy.
It’s frustrating to see fashion companies still appropriating other cultures in their designs. It’s 2019…do better.
