Zara withdraws controversial advertising campaign
Following numerous protests and calls for a boycott, the Spanish fashion brand Zara has withdrawn an advertising campaign. Against the backdrop of the Middle East conflict, this had been criticized on social networks as tasteless, among other things. The brand of parent company Inditex published a statement on Instagram on Tuesday, in which it also addressed the accusation that it had wanted to profit from the conflict in Gaza with "The Jacket" campaign.
The controversial photos show, for example, a model wearing a sculpture wrapped in white material on her shoulder. Shortly after publication on Monday, the first social media users complained that this was reminiscent of bodies in shrouds, as seen in recent weeks in connection with Israel's war against Hamas.
The images had nothing to do with Gaza, Zara assured. "Unfortunately, some customers felt offended by these images, which have since been removed, and saw them as something far removed from what was intended when they were created," it said.
Zara emphasized that the campaign had already been conceived in July. The photos were taken in September, before the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. It was "a series of pictures of unfinished sculptures in a sculptor's studio". "The campaign was launched with the sole intention of presenting handcrafted garments in an artistic context," it said.
This is not the first time that Zara has been pilloried for controversial advertising campaigns. However, critics were not unanimous in this latest case. While some accused Zara of trivializing or even exploiting the conflict, others interpreted the campaign as criticism of Israel.
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Amidst the boycott calls on social media, other fashion brands also expressed their disapproval towards Zara's "The Jacket" advertising campaign.
In response to the criticism, Zara announced plans to launch a new advertising campaign, focusing on showcasing their commitment to social responsibility and cultural sensitivity.
Source: www.ntv.de
