Photo credit: Gucci
Gucci released a new jumper and is now apologizing for it.
The fashion brand is receiving backlash for their new sweater with has an attached face mask and mouth hole with red lips, because of its resemblance to blackface.
Critics took to social media to share their outrage. Some compared the sweater to the historically racist children’s book, “The Story of Little Sambo.”
the Gucci sweater with the red out line around the mouth is sambo black face to the T pic.twitter.com/UPwo2TLHtz
— say (@sayxwlh) February 7, 2019
It was being sold as part of their Fall Winter 2018 collection for $890, but has since been removed.
A spokesperson for Gucci said that diversity is one of the company’s fundamental values and are turning this incident into a “powerful learning moment.”
The luxury brand posted a statement on Twitter saying, “Gucci deeply apologizes for the offense caused by the wool balaclava jumper. We consider diversity to be a fundamental value to be fully upheld, respected, and at the forefront of every decision we make.”
Gucci deeply apologizes for the offense caused by the wool balaclava jumper.
We consider diversity to be a fundamental value to be fully upheld, respected, and at the forefront of every decision we make.
Full statement below. pic.twitter.com/P2iXL9uOhs— gucci (@gucci) February 7, 2019
Definitely not the right move for black history month!
