The latest advertising campaign from the fashion chain Zara has sparked a heated debate. Now the Spanish fashion house has taken action and deleted the pictures.
The fashion company Zara has drawn conclusions from criticism of its latest advertising campaign. The subsidiary of the Spanish Inditex group announced today that management regretted that people had felt “insulted” by the advertising photos published last week and deleted the corresponding photos from its website and Instagram.
Photos released by the fashion house on Saturday as part of a new promotion showed models holding mannequins covered in white foil. Some of the dolls were missing individual limbs.
Internet users criticized the campaign as tasteless because of its association with the war in Gaza and called for a boycott. Zara emphasized today that the campaign was conceived in July and photographed in September – before the radical Islamic Hamas attacked Israel in early October.
“Handmade garment in an artistic context”
The campaign was intended to show unfinished sculptures in a sculptor’s studio. “Unfortunately, some customers were offended by these images, which have now been deleted, and saw them as something far removed from what was intended when they were created,” the company said in an Instagram post.
The images were “used solely for the purpose of presenting handmade garments in an artistic context.” The company further stated: “Zara regrets this misunderstanding and we reiterate our deep respect for everyone.”
The so-called “Atelier” collection consists of six jackets and is one of Zara’s most expensive. Prices range from $229 for a gray wool blazer with chunky knit sleeves to $799 for a studded leather jacket.