Burberry removes 'noose' hoodie after backlash

LONDON: British fashion house Burberry on Wednesday said it was removing from its collection a hoodie shown during London Fashion Week that included a knot shaped like a noose.

Model Liz Kennedy, who took part in Sunday's catwalk show, wrote that she was particularly affected by the item because of "an experience with suicide in my family".

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt_e9OpgGG3/

"Suicide is not fashion. It is not glamorous nor edgy," the model wrote on Instagram, adding that "it is beyond me how you could let a look resembling a noose hanging from a neck out on the runway".

Not just the model, many other social media users slammed the company for the problematic choice.

https://twitter.com/ChanelMoye/status/1097278302170034176

https://twitter.com/soulsister35/status/1097972200697720832

Now #Burberry is apologizing for the noose sweatshirt. That’s only the 6th or so offensive fashion release of 2019... c’mon people! pic.twitter.com/qEDohGBL7e

— The Paul by Alene Too (@The_Paul08) February 19, 2019

What on earth was Burberry thinking of??? #LondonFashionWeek #Burberry pic.twitter.com/te9Jdysjk2

— Kayode Thomas (@KayodeThomas1) February 20, 2019

Seriously, how you reflexively interpret this #Burberry image is the perfect tool to trace the fundamental semiotic divide between the history and present reality of white and black Americans, pretty much pic.twitter.com/vqhVLfgw66

— Jeff Yang 🫶 FOLLOW ME @ORIGINALSPIN ON THREADS/IG (@originalspin) February 19, 2019

Burberry's chief executive Marco Gobbetti said in a statement that he had called Kennedy to apologise.

"I am so deeply sorry for the distress that has been caused as a result of one of the pieces in my show on Sunday," chief creative officer Riccardo Tisci said.

"While the design was inspired by a nautical theme, I realise that it was insensitive," he wrote.

"It does not reflect my values nor Burberry's and we have removed it from the collection".

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