Zara’s New Campaign Is Under Fire for Parallels to Gaza Crisis
Zara, the Spanish fast-fashion brand, is facing backlash for its most recent campaign, released last week, with consumers drawing visual parallels between the ads and the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Here is what we know:
The Zara Campaign Scandal
Zara's campaign, released on December 7, featured model Kristen McMenamy posing in front of a deconstructed workspace filled with empty boxes and destroyed walls. The images, photographed by Tim Walker, depict rubble, broken stones, and statues, some wrapped in white cloth. Many people noticed similarities between the campaign and the aftermath of the October 7 attacks in Gaza.
Local journalists posted images of the Gaza crisis, particularly one of a mother hugging her dead child, wrapped in a white cloth body bag. These images garnered international attention and drew comparisons to the Zara ad campaign.
Social media users criticized Zara's campaign for being insensitive and even claimed that it was intentional. Many vowed to boycott the brand, emphasizing the need to take a stance against companies that support or create controversial content.
Zara's Response
Zara initially stated that the campaign was not intentional and that the images were misunderstood. However, after the backlash continued, the brand issued a statement on Instagram, expressing regret for the offense caused. Zara emphasized their respect for everyone and stated that the controversial images had been removed.
The photographer of the campaign, Tim Walker, has not made a public statement regarding the controversy. While some believe the images were not directly referencing Gaza, others argue that the concept of destruction and ruin has been a recurring theme in Walker's work. However, critics suggest that someone on Walker's team should have considered the potential implications before releasing the campaign.
Zara's History of Controversy
This is not the first time Zara has faced controversy related to Palestine. In 2021, a Zara designer, Vanessa Perilman, was accused of harassing a Palestinian model online after he expressed support for Gaza. Screenshots of the messages revealed Perilman's offensive and uninformed comments about the conflict. Although Inditex, Zara's parent company, condemned Perilman's remarks, it is unclear if any disciplinary action was taken.
Despite public outcry and calls for her dismissal, Perilman allegedly remains a senior design director at Inditex and the head designer for Zara women's collection. This history of controversy adds to the criticism faced by Zara's recent campaign, with consumers demanding accountability and sensitivity from the brand.
