Fast-fashion retailer Zara is in trouble again. As the store is testing its first click-and-click concept store in London’s Westfield shopping centre, it's also facing criticism for selling a checked mini skirt which some shoppers believe rips off a lungi, a garment typically worn by men in countries like Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Somaliland, Nepal, Cambodia, Djibouti, Myanmar, and Thailand; regions where it gets a bit too hot to wear trousers for long hours at a time.
The criticism began on Tuesday when a users took to Twitter to accuse the retailer for appropriating the South Asian fashion without attributing its inspiration (but when do they ever?). The Telegraph notes a lungi is a “grandpa’s uniform,” and typically wouldn’t ever cost £70 as Zara is charging. According to the BBC, it usually only costs a few dollars at local street markets. Zara describes the skirt as a “checked mini” with a “front slit detail at the hem” and “zip fastening in the back, hidden along the seam.”
The BBC also pointed out the hypocrisy of the fast-fashion retailer producing their clothing cheaply in Asian countries and then stealing pieces from the culture without properly acknowledging where the inspiration came from. For the record, Zara has also been in hot water for selling a children’s shirt that resembled concentration camp uniforms in 2014, and most recently, a denim skirt with Pepe the Frog on it, now a symbol of the alt-right movement. So they're certainly not new to controversy.
Results seem to be mixed when it comes to whether or not this skirt, which at the time of this article’s publication was still for sale online, is actually cultural appropriative, or something inspired by Indian street style. Keep reading to see what Twitter users had to say on the matter — chic checked mini or grandpa’s uniform?
Who wore it better? And yes Zara, that's a lungi! pic.twitter.com/65KwCBxIDC
— Aaqib Raza Khan (@aaqibrk) January 30, 2018
The idea of someone buying a £70 lungi is qwhite funny. https://t.co/gXZl55PZcg?amp=1
— Megha Mohan (@meghamohan) January 29, 2018
Fashion is mad. Rs 6000 for a lungi. https://t.co/sWTvPLiKPl
— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) January 30, 2018
Now you can buy a lungi from Zara in the UK -- for a mere 69.99 pounds
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) February 1, 2018
(It prob sells in India for 1-2 pounds)
Via https://t.co/PGQJUkAyTi pic.twitter.com/y495P3Qujj
A £69.99 skirt from @ZARA that looks like a south Asian male skirt (lungi) that costs less than £1 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/47aA2SSSg5
— Aria (@ms_aria101) January 28, 2018
Looks Zara selling this Lungi for $70. pic.twitter.com/TEvVkqnpqs
— فزلور (@fazlurism) January 30, 2018
Me: "Hahahahahah what's with that dumbass £70 lungi from Zara. Pachaas rupaye ki milti hai. Yeh firangs bhi naa, complete idiots."
— Akshar (@AksharPathak) January 30, 2018
Starbucks' barista: "What'll you have, sir?"
Me: "One Turmeric Spiced Chai Latte"
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
H&M Is Launching A New Affordable Luxury Brand, Nyden
Lunch With Chloë Sevigny, A New York City Ballet Tour, & More Over-The-Top Gifts
Anthropologie Is Being Accused Of Copying This Indie Jewellery Designer