Tadashi Shoji and guests react to backlash over Gucci sweater that recalls blackface
(8 Feb 2019) TADASHI SHOJI AND GUESTS REACT TO BACKLASH OVER GUCCI SWEATER THAT RECALLS BLACKFACE Two major design houses have now misstepped, receiving backlash for designs seen as racially offensive. In December, Prada withdrew monkey bag charm figurines that recalled blackface. On Wednesday (7 FEB. 2019), it was Gucci's turn to apologize after creating a black wool sweater that pulls over the chin and nose. The sweater's opening for the mouth is lined in red, resembling fat red lips that again recall blackface. At Tadashi Shoji's show Wednesday (06 FEB. 2019) during New York Fashion Week, the designer pointed to the lack of diversity as the root cause. "So like, we are doing a business internationally and then these designers don't know any other culture's psychology and sensitivity and those kind of stuff. They're lacking in those kind of stuff," said Shoji. His own show, which pulled from Southeast Asian culture was one inspired from his direct experiences. "So, like, I'm a minority, I'm Japanese American, so I think that reason, and that I'm Buddhist," he said. He hopes his show helps with diversity when people see the inspiration behind the clothes. Shoji wasn't the only one unhappy with the lack of diversity in the fashion world. When asked for their opinion on the news surrounding the Gucci sweater, twin models TK and Cipriana Quann asked, "How much time do you have?" "I think a lot of it has to do with the kind of employees that you have working for your company. When the company is not diverse, so they're not inclusive, you'll find that allow those problems arise because people of different diversities have different ways of seeing things, different ways of expressing things, things that they'll get offended by that another person might not see that," said Cipriana Quann. "So, the more diverse your company, the more you'll be able to catch those cultural appropriation screw ups." Her sister added, "And you need more people with diversity and the corporate side as well and the board meetings because if you have people that are diverse, they'll be able to point that out right away, you know. That's why some brands and companies have had issues with racism in the past because they're not aware of it because they don't have a diverse team." British model Tess Holliday agreed. "I think the missteps are because they're not asking people that are actually from that community, so, they're trying to make the leap without saying, have we considered talking to people from the community that we're trying to reach?" said Holliday. "So, I think that comes into like actually really being diverse and that means with who you're consulting before the product is getting put out there." Booth Moore, author of "Where Stylists Shop," said the insensitivity extended beyond the fashion world. "I mean we're seeing it in politics right now. Seen it in Hollywood. You know, it's certainly sort of like a great issue of our time. And, you know, I think the solution is really just more representation behind the scenes, more communication ahead of times and also just kind of common sense," she said. "And, you know, just really being sort of attuned to that and the fact that you know these are, very different, hopefully more evolved times." Ken Downing, fashion director for Neiman Marcus, said the industry does need to "be aware," but threw his support toward the designers saying that these offenses happened unintentionally. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
