Tweet
Victoria's Secret Geisha Outfit Faces Criticism
Picture credit: Rex Features
VICTORIA'S SECRET has removed its Oriental-inspired Go East collection from its website after it was deemed offensive by critics. The Sexy Little Geisha mesh one-piece attracted the most controversy - featuring cut-out panelling, floral details and a removable obi belt, as well as a matching fan and chopsticks. The accompanying description read: "Your ticket to an exotic adventure. Sexy little fantasies, there's one for every sexy you."
"When someone creates a collection like this, making inauthentic references to 'Eastern culture' (whatever that means), with hints of red or a fan accessory or floral designs, it reinforces a narrative that says that all Asian cultures - and their women - are exotic, far away but easy to access," US blog Racialicious said. "It's a narrative that says the culture can be completely stripped of its realness in order to fulfil our fantasies of a safe and non-threatening, mysterious East. But when a company takes it one step further by developing a story about how the clothes can offer a sort of escape using explicit sexualised and exploitive language, it takes the whole thing to another level. It's a troubling attempt to sidestep authentic representation and humanisation of a culture and opt instead for racialised fetishising against Asian women."
Website links to the collection have been redirected to the brand's homepage. A spokesperson for Victoria's Secret was not available for comment.
"Considering the complicated history of geishas, repurposing the [geisha] look for a major corporation to sell as role-playing lingerie seems a bit tasteless," added blog The Frisky.
- 25 September 2012
- Ella Alexander
Picture credit: Rex Features
VICTORIA'S SECRET has removed its Oriental-inspired Go East collection from its website after it was deemed offensive by critics. The Sexy Little Geisha mesh one-piece attracted the most controversy - featuring cut-out panelling, floral details and a removable obi belt, as well as a matching fan and chopsticks. The accompanying description read: "Your ticket to an exotic adventure. Sexy little fantasies, there's one for every sexy you."
"When someone creates a collection like this, making inauthentic references to 'Eastern culture' (whatever that means), with hints of red or a fan accessory or floral designs, it reinforces a narrative that says that all Asian cultures - and their women - are exotic, far away but easy to access," US blog Racialicious said. "It's a narrative that says the culture can be completely stripped of its realness in order to fulfil our fantasies of a safe and non-threatening, mysterious East. But when a company takes it one step further by developing a story about how the clothes can offer a sort of escape using explicit sexualised and exploitive language, it takes the whole thing to another level. It's a troubling attempt to sidestep authentic representation and humanisation of a culture and opt instead for racialised fetishising against Asian women."
Website links to the collection have been redirected to the brand's homepage. A spokesperson for Victoria's Secret was not available for comment.
"Considering the complicated history of geishas, repurposing the [geisha] look for a major corporation to sell as role-playing lingerie seems a bit tasteless," added blog The Frisky.
Comment