Shocking clothing lines history! Fashion doesn’t have the greatest track record when it comes to blackface. Every year, it seems a new blackface controversy surfaces, with a new model at the center. This year, it was Gigi Hadid, who appeared on the cover of Vogue Italia sporting what some saw as a suspiciously dark tan. As BBC pointed out, many of Hadid’s followers were quick to point out her darkened appearance in the image, which was shot by Steven Klein. Others flat out called the image blackface. The criticism prompted the 23-year-old model to apologize. She shared a statement on Twitter along with a photo of herself post-shoot, with bronze makeup still on her face.
Alexander McQueen’s Fall/Winter 1995 Collection, “Highland Rape”, McQueen was one of the greatest provocateurs in the fashion industry, so it’s no surprise that another one of his shows makes this list. For his Fall/Winter 1995 show, Highland Rape, McQueen sent out models bruised and battered wearing tattered clothes of tartan and lace. With some thinking that McQueen was promoting violence against women, the backlash was swift. But, in McQueen’s eyes, the show was meant to represent the ethnic cleansing of the Scottish Highlands by British soldiers during the 18th and 19th centuries and the ensuing controversy upset the designer, especially since he cared so much about designing clothes that empowered women.
Kendall + Kylie Jenner Selfie “Vintage” Band Tees, Kendall and Kylie Jenner’s eponymous clothing line has had its ups and downs this year. The sisters found themselves in the center of a firestorm of controversy after releasing “vintage” band t-shirts that featured their faces photoshopped over music legends. Not only did many people find the designs offensive and morally reprehensible, apparently Kendall and Kylie didn’t have legal permission to use most of the images either.
Rather than casting traditional models in her Spring/Summer 2009 show, the notoriously zany Brit designer Westwood chose to use members of the Roma community to showcase her gypsy-inspired designs at Milan Fashion Week. At the time, tensions between gypsies and Italians were running especially high, so it was a problematic and provocative choice. The collection and the concept of the show were both criticized by a member of the city’s council, Tiziano Maiolo, who said: “I think the designer has a romantic notion about gypsies that is 100 years out of date. If she wants, I will take her on a tour of the nomad camps. These people do not want to work, they live by thieving and they have no respect for the law.” But once again it seems like fashion succeeded in putting its finger right on the trickiest aspects of contemporary social life. Questionable, or exquisite taste? Provocateur campaigner-designer Westwood would have you decide.
Another controversial fashion line is Headhunters Line, a very bold fashion line that already generated a lot of controversy. Sex, guns, upsetting message, this fashion clothing line has them all. Read extra details at Headhunters Collection.