Louis Vuitton pulls $705 blue and white ‘keffiyeh stole’ after backlash
Luxury fashion brand accused of cultural appropriation, with some taking further offense over the fact that scarf is in Israel’s national colors
Fashion brand Louis Vuitton has pulled a $705 scarf from sale on its website after the famed luxury brand was accused of culturally appropriating the keffiyeh, the scarf often used as a symbol of Palestinian nationalism.
Louis Vuitton was accused of causing further offense with the decision to make its “Monogram Keffieh Stole” in blue and white — Israel’s national colors.
According to the Independent newspaper, the scarf was described on the fashion firm’s website as: “inspired by the classic Keffieh and enriched with House signatures.”
“A jacquard weave technique is used to create the intricate Monogram patterns on its base of blended cotton, wool and silk. Soft and lightweight with fringed edges, this timeless accessory creates an easygoing mood,” the website said.
The furor began after the clothing item was spotted by fashion blogger Diet Prada, with a post on Instagram reading: “So LVMH’s stance on politics is “neutral,” but they’re still making a $705 logo-emblazoned keffiyeh, which is a traditional Arab headdress that’s become a symbol of Palestinian nationalism.”
The reference to the fashion house remaining “neutral” apparently referred to rumors that Louis Vuitton considered dropping supermodel Bella Hadid, whose father is Palestinian, after she posted a picture on Instagram with a series of images of two illustrated women talking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
One of the women asks, “So aren’t Israelis and Palestinians just fighting over religion?”
The other woman responds: “They are not ‘fighting,’ Israelis are the oppressors and Palestinians are the oppressed and the situation is about anything but religion.”
The image was posted during the most recent round of violence between Israel and Gaza-based terror groups.
Last month the region saw its most intense violence since 2014 as Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired over 4,000 rockets at Israel and the Israeli military pummeled the Strip with strikes targeting the groups’ infrastructure and weaponry.
The Times of Israel Community.