Fashion in the news: the best fashion reads this week

Every Friday, FashionUnited selects the most interesting reads about the fashion industry published across US news outlets. Here’s what you may have missed this week:

Dolce & Gabbana accused of racism

While last week Victoria’s Secret was the one deemed out of touch and out of time, this week it was Dolce & Gabbana’s turn to be accused of being oblivious to consumers’ shifting attitudes towards diversity. The Italian label, which was planning a major fashion show in China, had to cancel the event last minute due to a public outcry regarding its advertising campaign, which included a video featuring a Chinese woman trying to eat Italian foods using chopsticks. At the end, when trying to eat a cannoli, a male voice asks “is it too big for you?”.

Social media users not just from China but all over the world found the ad racist and sexist, and the situation only got worse after a series of alleged screenshots of Stefano Gabbana arguing with Instagram users were unveiled by Diet Prada. Gabbana supposedly said the ads weren’t racist because “everybody knows the Chinese use chopsticks and eat dogs” and the ad was only taken down from Chinese social media because his team is “as stupid as Chinese superiority”. Last but definitely not least, the fashion designer allegedly called China “a country of [series of poop emojis]”.

While Chinese celebrities pledged to never wear Dolce & Gabbana again and e-commerce websites removed D&G items from their catalog, Bloomberg published a thought-provoking opinion piece titled “D&G’s Racism Row Shows the Worst of Fashion”. The news agency argues the whole fashion industry needs to change or risk alienating customers.

Slimaniacs vs. Philophiles: the battle continues

Hedi Slimane’s debut as Creative Director at French luxury label Celine was met with criticism. Fashionistas the world over have accused the designer of being a one trick pony, as many of the new designs resembled his creations at the helm of another fashion house, Saint Laurent. This week, The New York times reported a surge in sales of Celine items from the times of Slimane’s predecessor, Phoebe Philo. The demand for Philo’s designs is skyrocketing on resale websites such as eBay, Vestiaire Collective and The RealReal. What is it that Philo has that Slimane doesn’t? Read the article to find out.

Are recycled bottles the future of fashion?

American apparel brand Everlane thinks they are, and you can learn more about their point of view in a comprehensive profile published this week by Wired. However, recycled PET has both defenders and detractors in the fashion industry, so if you’re interested in finding out what the other side says, head over to our article published last week: “How Sustainable is Recycled Polyester?”

Man repeller, money maker

Leandra Medine, the mastermind behind satirical fashion blog Man Repeller, is one of the pioneers of influencer marketing. She started blogging back when most people would laugh at the idea of blogging as a profession and now she is one of the most respected names in the industry. With a book and a shoe line under her belt, she’s collaborated with brands like Michael Kors, Maje and Saks Fifth Avenue. In this candid interview with Forbes, Medine offers a closer look at her road to entrepreneurship.

Photo: Everlane Facebook