Gucci has pulled a $890 sweater from its collection after receiving an onslaught of backlash from people who deemed the item offensive. The turtleneck black wool balaclava sweater covers the nose and includes a red cut-out for the mouth, baring a strong resemblance to blackface.
In the wake of the public outcry, the luxury fashion brand has issued an apology on its Twitter account.
“Gucci deeply apologizes for the offense caused by the wool balaclava jumper,” it reads. “We can confirm that the item has been immediately removed from our online store and all physical stores. We consider diversity to be a fundamental value to be fully upheld, respected, and at the forefront of every decision we make.
“We are fully committed to increasing diversity throughout our organization and turning this incident into a powerful learning moment for the Gucci team and beyond.”
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Despite Gucci’s apology, many people weren’t so quick to forgive. Some couldn’t believe it even made it past the production stage, let alone be sold on the company’s website. Others pointed out fellow luxury fashion brand Prada also released some questionable merchandise.
Check out the reactions below.
