PHOTOSKanye West's Pal Ricardo Tisci Apologizes After Model Struts The Runway In A 'Noose' Hoodie At Burberry LFW Show
Feb. 20 2019, Published 5:42 p.m. ET
Burberry was forced to apologize after they let one of their models walk the runway at London Fashion Week on February 17 in a beige hoodie which featured a noose hanging around the model's neck. Scroll through to get all the details.
In the apology issued to CNN, the brand's Chief Executive Officer Marco Gobbetti said, “We are deeply sorry for the distress caused by one of the products that featured in our A/W 2019 runway collection. Though the design was inspired by the marine theme that ran throughout the collection, it was insensitive and we made a mistake.”
Burberry’s Chief Creative Officer Riccardo Tisci, who also designed the show, additionally apologized on behalf of the brand. "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,” he told CNN.
“It was never my intention to upset anyone," the designer, who is close friends with Kanye West added. "It does not reflect my values nor Burberry’s and we have removed it from the collection. I will make sure that this does not happen again.”
Their regretful apologies came not long after runway model, Liz Kennedy, who walked in the show, took to social media to talk about how disturbed she was by the look. "Suicide is not fashion," she wrote via Instagram. "I am ashamed to have been a part of the show."
"Riccardo Tisci and everyone at Burberry it is beyond me how you could let a look resembling a noose hanging from a neck out on the runway. How could anyone overlook this and think it would be okay to do this especially in a line dedicated to young girls and youth. The impressionable youth," the model wrote.
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"Not to mention the rising suicide rates worldwide. Let’s not forget about the horrifying history of lynching either. There are hundreds of ways to tie a rope and they chose to tie it like a noose completely ignoring the fact that it was hanging around a neck," Liz continued.
"A massive brand like Burberry who is typically considered commercial and classy should not have overlooked such an obvious resemblance. I left my fitting extremely triggered after seeing this look (even though I did not wear it myself)," she explained. "Feeling as though I was right back where I was when I was going through an experience with suicide in my family."
"I had asked to speak to someone about it but the only thing I was told to do was to write a letter. I had a brief conversation with someone but all that it entailed was, 'it’s fashion. Nobody cares about what’s going on in your personal life so just keep it to yourself,' well I’m sorry but this is an issue bigger than myself," she added.
"The issue is not about me being upset, there is a bigger picture here of what fashion turns a blind eye to or does to gain publicity. A look so ignorantly put together and a situation so poorly handled. I am ashamed to have been apart of the show. #burberry. I did not post this to disrespect the designer or the brand but to simply express an issue I feel very passionate about," Liz concluded.
What do you think of the Burberry London Fashion Week controversy? Let us know in the comments below.
