The campaign of criticism and boycott calls launched by activists against the international clothing company “Zara” continues because of its advertising campaign for its new collection, which has been linked to the genocide of the people of Gaza as a result of the Israeli aggression on the Strip since the seventh of last October.
Due to the calls and protests, the company removed its advertising campaign from its platforms and website.
Inditex Group, which owns Zara, said that the “Atelier” collection was designed last July and the photos that sparked criticism were taken last September, while the war between “Hamas” and Israel began in October, according to Reuters.
But it seems that the clarification and justification of the group that owns Zara did not convince supporters of the Palestinian cause, and tweeters responded to the justification that it was not convincing, especially by using the idea of shrouded bodies, inspired by Muslims’ funeral of their dead, as well as the emergence of a person from among the rubble, which, according to them, symbolizes what is happening in Gaza. They stressed the need to boycott the international clothing company.
Regardless of Zara’s justification that it was filming the advertising campaign before the Gaza war, the question is: What is the wisdom behind filming a model carrying a corpse with a shroud!! I mean, where is the beauty in the subject! #Zara #Zara Very stupid, match 👌 Knowing that Muslims use the white shroud upon death, meaning you don’t wear your shroud 😏 pic.twitter.com/8PaFcLFFG2
– Sazdel el Kak Sazdel (@Sazdell) December 12, 2023
The anger was reflected from the communication platforms to the street, where bloggers published a group of videos showing activists in Montreal, Canada, spraying the facade of a branch of the “Zara” chain with pro-Palestinian slogans, while protesters closed the entrance to one of the company’s branches in America because of its recent advertisement, which activists considered a mockery. What is happening in Gaza is the continuous killing of the people of the Strip.
Zara in Montreal pic.twitter.com/OeFhzZztNQ
– Salem Omar Al Hashemi (@salimalnimr) December 12, 2023
Video clips also showed a group of activists carrying shrouded children’s dolls and walking around with them inside a Zara store.
Angry Tunisians also demonstrated in front of one of the company’s branches in the Tunisian capital and stained its facade red, in protest against the company’s designs, which pioneers of the virtual world considered offensive to the victims of the Israeli war on Gaza.
In response to a promotional campaign downplaying the suffering of Palestinians in #Gaza For a new collection, activists organized a sit-in at Zara stores. pic.twitter.com/hWBtp5UbjM
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) December 12, 2023
Tunisians sprayed Zara store in Tunis after their offensive advertising campaign supporting the Israeli genocide in Gaza, pic.twitter.com/ymKpxchSZo
– 𓂆 Meryem (@hgmeryem) December 11, 2023
The Advertising Law Regulatory Authority said it had received 50 complaints about the company’s advertising campaign on social media titled “The Jacket.”
The set of 6 jackets is one of Zara’s most expensive collections, with prices ranging between $229 and $799.
