Gucci's $790 'Indy Full Turban' Sparks Renewed Charges of Cultural Insensitivity

From Esquire

It's only been a few months since Gucci faced considerable backlash on social media for selling a "wool balaclava jumper" featuring exaggerated red lips that looked like blackface. In the time since, the company and CEO Marco Bizzarri have been taking strides to fix the systemic issues that led to such a style being released in the first place. But they can't turn back the clock, and another style from the same collection that included the blackface sweater just sparked a new wave of accusations of cultural insensitivity on social media.

Gucci's "indy full turban" was being sold on Nordstrom's website earlier this week for $790. In the early hours of Thursday morning, the retailer announced that it had pulled the item the site. The announcement was a direct response to Twitter user Naureen Singh, who asked: "Does anyone wanna explain to me why @gucci thought selling a turban for $790 was a good idea? @Nordstrom This isn't a 'trademark style.' This is not some 'fashion accessory.' This is just very-off."

"We have decided to stop carrying this product and have removed it from the site," Nordstrom replied. "It was never our intent to disrespect this religious and cultural symbol. We sincerely apologize to anyone who may have been offended by this."

Though the item is now renamed a "full head wrap" and listed as "sold out" at Nordstrom, many more have taken note of the style and its deep ties to the Sikh religion. "Dear @gucci, the Sikh Turban is not a hot new accessory for white models but an article of faith for practising Sikhs," wrote Harjinder Singh Kukreja, a Sikh restaurateur and philanthropist with more than 1.6 million Twitter followers. "Your models have used Turbans as 'hats' whereas practising Sikhs tie them neatly fold-by-fold. Using fake Sikhs/Turbans is worse than selling fake Gucci products."

In the wake of the blackface controversy, Gucci announced the creation of an external Changemakers Council alongside an internal program to support inclusion and diversity. Bizzarri himself met with Gucci partner Dapper Dan-who was brought into the fold after Gucci was accused of appropriating one of the legendary Harlem tailor's 1989 designs, and vocally critical of Gucci when the sweater appeared on social media-to discuss issues of racial representation. Hopefully, this ongoing discussion will delve into religious representation as well. Gucci seems to recognize the need for change; now's the time to make good on that with concrete action.

Esquire has reached out to Gucci for comment, and will update this post with any new information.

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