Racist Moments in Fashion

When designers show their ignorance in the industry.

Claudio Cutugno  - Read on for a closer look at designers and brands that have shown their ignorance in the industry. By Dorkys Ramos During Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2015, designer Claudio Cutugno sent his models down the runway with their faces covered in glittery black paint. Naturally, this didn't sit well with the critical eye of the Internet, with detractors calling Cutungo racist for incorporating offensive blackface imagery into his collection. He later responded in a statement by saying his concept was inspired by the works of artist Emilio Isgrò, adding, "I am extremely respectful of the afroamerican culture and extremely sorry for each type episode of racism. Furthermore my inspiration was coming from a completely different idea which has nothing to do with the theme of afroamerican culture." (Photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

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Claudio Cutugno  - Read on for a closer look at designers and brands that have shown their ignorance in the industry. By Dorkys Ramos During Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2015, designer Claudio Cutugno sent his models down the runway with their faces covered in glittery black paint. Naturally, this didn't sit well with the critical eye of the Internet, with detractors calling Cutungo racist for incorporating offensive blackface imagery into his collection. He later responded in a statement by saying his concept was inspired by the works of artist Emilio Isgrò, adding, "I am extremely respectful of the afroamerican culture and extremely sorry for each type episode of racism. Furthermore my inspiration was coming from a completely different idea which has nothing to do with the theme of afroamerican culture." (Photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

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A.P.C.'s Jean Touitou - A.P.C. CEO Jean Touitou came under fire this week for using racial slurs like the “N-word" and offensive remarks about the brand's latest collection. When he said that their collaboration with Timberland came about because it's a "strong ghetto signifier," Timberland pulled out from the collaboration and said the comments go against their values. (Photo: Foc Kan/WireImage)

Photo By Foc Kan/WireImage

Karl Lagerfeld - We want to know what the heck Karl Lagerfeld was thinking when he used model Claudia Schiffer, who is German, for a 2013 ad campaign and made her up in yellow face (for an Asian look) and blackface with a ‘fro. (Photos from left: Victor Boyko/Getty Images, Stern Fotografie Magazine)

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Karl Lagerfeld - We want to know what the heck Karl Lagerfeld was thinking when he used model Claudia Schiffer, who is German, for a 2013 ad campaign and made her up in yellow face (for an Asian look) and blackface with a ‘fro. (Photos from left: Victor Boyko/Getty Images, Stern Fotografie Magazine)

Proenza Schouler - Shockwaves rang out when Proenza Schouler released a video with filmmaker Harmony Korine for Schouler’s Fall 2011 line. The problem with the short was that it featured two women in Native American gear, complete with bows and sacred headdresses, and captured them running around mimicking tribal dances. (Photo: Proenza Schouler via Youtube)

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Proenza Schouler - Shockwaves rang out when Proenza Schouler released a video with filmmaker Harmony Korine for Schouler’s Fall 2011 line. The problem with the short was that it featured two women in Native American gear, complete with bows and sacred headdresses, and captured them running around mimicking tribal dances. (Photo: Proenza Schouler via Youtube)

Jean-Paul Guerlain - The parfumier was sued by three civil rights groups after making insensitive comments about how he worked "harder than a n****r" to make his perfumes. He was fined for his ignorance, but the uproar didn't end after his verdict because he tried to justify his actions by saying that he comes from a generation that used such language. (Photo: REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen/Files)

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Jean-Paul Guerlain - The parfumier was sued by three civil rights groups after making insensitive comments about how he worked "harder than a n****r" to make his perfumes. He was fined for his ignorance, but the uproar didn't end after his verdict because he tried to justify his actions by saying that he comes from a generation that used such language. (Photo: REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen/Files)

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John Galliano - When designer John Galliano went into an anti-Semitic rant at a Parisian café in 2011 about how much he loves Hitler and hates Jews, he not only lost his standing in the industry, but the respect of many of his followers.  (Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

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John Galliano - When designer John Galliano went into an anti-Semitic rant at a Parisian café in 2011 about how much he loves Hitler and hates Jews, he not only lost his standing in the industry, but the respect of many of his followers.  (Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

Céline - In a 2013 awareness campaign, Iman, Naomi Campbell, and Bethann Hardison called out Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Donatella Versace, Karl Lagerfeld and Prada among brands that "consistently use one or no models of color" in their runway shows. The biggest culprit they named? Céline. "Phoebe Philo — she’s a cool girl. But Céline has never had a coloured person showing in their collection. Ever,” Hardison claimed. “And yet they have the best accessories; every black woman who has money buys her accessories.”  (Photo: PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images)

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Céline - In a 2013 awareness campaign, Iman, Naomi Campbell, and Bethann Hardison called out Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Donatella Versace, Karl Lagerfeld and Prada among brands that "consistently use one or no models of color" in their runway shows. The biggest culprit they named? Céline. "Phoebe Philo — she’s a cool girl. But Céline has never had a coloured person showing in their collection. Ever,” Hardison claimed. “And yet they have the best accessories; every black woman who has money buys her accessories.”  (Photo: PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images)

Adidas - When the sneaker company released a pair of Roundhouse Mid Handcuffs by designer Jeremy Scott in 2012, we couldn't get past the fact that they were selling shoes with shackles. The company insisted it was not a nod towards slavery, but we just want to know how this didn't raise any alarms as it went along the assembly line. (Photo: ADIDAS Originals via Facebook)

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Adidas - When the sneaker company released a pair of Roundhouse Mid Handcuffs by designer Jeremy Scott in 2012, we couldn't get past the fact that they were selling shoes with shackles. The company insisted it was not a nod towards slavery, but we just want to know how this didn't raise any alarms as it went along the assembly line. (Photo: ADIDAS Originals via Facebook)

Ralph Lauren - Apparently someone at Ralph Lauren thought the holiday season wouldn't be complete without offending an entire race. For its 2014 holiday ad campaign, the brand took old photos of deceased Native Americans and dressed them up in their latest collection. Not only were Native Americans offended by the complete lack of respect shown to their ancestors, but it also reminded them of a time when they were forced to assimilate into an imposing culture. (Photo: Ralph Lauren)

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Ralph Lauren - Apparently someone at Ralph Lauren thought the holiday season wouldn't be complete without offending an entire race. For its 2014 holiday ad campaign, the brand took old photos of deceased Native Americans and dressed them up in their latest collection. Not only were Native Americans offended by the complete lack of respect shown to their ancestors, but it also reminded them of a time when they were forced to assimilate into an imposing culture. (Photo: Ralph Lauren)

Urban Outfitters - You may still be trying to scrub the retailer’s blood-stained Kent State University sweatshirt from your memory, but it’s just one in a long history of offensive wares hawked to shoppers. To name a few more, the Navajo Nation filed a lawsuit against UO after its “Navajo Hipster Panty” made the rounds in 2012, and then there’s the Ghettopoly board game of 2003.   (Photo: Urban Outfitters)

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Urban Outfitters - You may still be trying to scrub the retailer’s blood-stained Kent State University sweatshirt from your memory, but it’s just one in a long history of offensive wares hawked to shoppers. To name a few more, the Navajo Nation filed a lawsuit against UO after its “Navajo Hipster Panty” made the rounds in 2012, and then there’s the Ghettopoly board game of 2003.   (Photo: Urban Outfitters)

Alessandro Dell’Acqua - The fact that there are still people who don't understand the history of backface and why it's so offensive is beyond us, but here we are. For Milan’s annual Halloweek party in October 2013, Alessandro Dell'Acqua thought it'd be a good idea to go in blackface for the event's "Disco Africa" theme.  (Photo: Alessandro Dell’Acqua via Twitter)

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Alessandro Dell’Acqua - The fact that there are still people who don't understand the history of backface and why it's so offensive is beyond us, but here we are. For Milan’s annual Halloweek party in October 2013, Alessandro Dell'Acqua thought it'd be a good idea to go in blackface for the event's "Disco Africa" theme.  (Photo: Alessandro Dell’Acqua via Twitter)