Gucci has apologized for a wool sweater after complaints that it resembled blackface makeup and has discontinued selling the item in its online and physical stores.
Rhe Italian luxury brand’s “Balaclava” sweater came under heavy scrutiny on Wednesday as many were quick to point out that the turtleneck’s design resembles blackface.
In a statement posted on Twitter on Wednesday, Gucci said it was committed to diversity and considered it a “fundamental value to be fully upheld, respected and at the forefront of every decision we make.”
Gucci deeply apologizes for the offense caused by the wool balaclava jumper.
We consider diversity to be a fundamental value to be fully upheld, respected, and at the forefront of every decision we make.
Full statement below. pic.twitter.com/P2iXL9uOhs— gucci (@gucci) February 7, 2019
“We can confirm that the item has been immediately removed from our online store and all physical stores,” Gucci’s statement read. “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.”
The sweater was soundly ridiculed on social media as insensitive and racist, at a time when the U.S. is grappling with cases of old photos of politicians appearing in blackface.
