Burberry Apologizes For Noose Hoodie At Fashion Week - 'It Was Insensitive'

Burberry is facing heat after a hoodie went down the runway at London Fashion Week with strings tied in the shape of a noose.
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Liz Kennedy, a model who walked in the show, shared an Instagram post critiquing the design after it made its debut on the catwalk. She slammed the brand, writing:

“A look so ignorantly put together and a situation so poorly handled. I am ashamed to have been apart of the show. “

And she not only called out how it might be triggering, but also the resemblance to lynching. See her full post (below):

View this post on Instagram

@burberry @riccardotisci17 Suicide is not fashion. It is not glamorous nor edgy and since this show is dedicated to the youth expressing their voice, here I go. Riccardo Tisci and everyone at Burberry it is beyond me how you could let a look resembling a noose hanging from a neck out on the runway. How could anyone overlook this and think it would be okay to do this especially in a line dedicated to young girls and youth. The impressionable youth. Not to mention the rising suicide rates world wide. Let’s not forget about the horrifying history of lynching either. There are hundreds of ways to tie a rope and they chose to tie it like a noose completely ignoring the fact that it was hanging around a neck. A massive brand like Burberry who is typically considered commercial and classy should not have overlooked such an obvious resemblance. I left my fitting extremely triggered after seeing this look (even though I did not wear it myself). Feeling as though I was right back where I was when I was going through an experience with suicide in my family. Also to add in they briefly hung one from the ceiling (trying to figure out the knot) and were laughing about it in the dressing room. I had asked to speak to someone about it but the only thing I was told to do was to write a letter. I had a brief conversation with someone but all that it entailed was “it’s fashion. Nobody cares about what’s going on in your personal life so just keep it to yourself” well I’m sorry but this is an issue bigger than myself. A look so ignorantly put together and a situation so poorly handled. I am ashamed to have been apart of the show. #burberry.

A post shared by Liz Kennedy (@liz.kennedy_) on Feb 17, 2019 at 9:51am PST

Her message, along with more backlash, prompted a response from Burberry CEO Marco Gobbetti on Tuesday, who said the brand is “deeply sorry for the distress,” and that the sweatshirt would be removed from the collection as well as all images of the item. He continued:

“The experience Ms. Kennedy describes does not reflect who we are and our values. We will reflect on this, learn from it and put in place all necessary actions to ensure it does not happen again.”

Riccardo Tisci, the fashion house’s creative director said:

“While the design was inspired by a nautical theme, I realize that it was insensitive.”

Do better, people!!
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
[Image via Burberry.]