Gucci's creative director has issued a statement about the label's recent blackface scandal.
In a company letter obtained by Fashionista, designer Alessandro Michele apologized for the controversial sweater that was critcized for its resemblence to blackface. The $890 piece featured an oversized turtleneck collar with bright red lips framing a cutout for the mouth. The Italian fashion house pulled the piece from shelves last week amid calls for a boycott; black creators like Spike Lee, T.I., Soulja Boy, and Gucci collaborator Dapper Dan have condemned the label over the design.
On Tuesday, Michele issued a personal company-wide letter in which he said it was important to take responsibility for the offense the sweater has caused. He also insisted that the design did not a reference to minstrelsy, but rather a nod to the legendary 1980s club kid Leigh Bowery.
"The fact that, contrarily to my intentions, that turtle-neck jumper evoked a racist imagery causes me the greatest grief," the creative director wrote. "But I am aware that sometimes our actions can end up with causing [sic]unintentional effects. It is therefore necessary taking full accountability for these effects."
Michele also referenced Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri's recent internal memo, which announced the implentation of various programs to "facilitate an increase of different communities within the creative office."
You can read Michele's full letter below.
Dear Colleagues,
Gucci isn't the only fashion company to face a blackface scandal. Prada was previously blasted for a collection of accessories that resembled the Sambo caricature, and Katy Perry's fashion label has recently discontinued a footwear design that also evoked racist imagery.
