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Burberry in London Fashion Week apology after model complains over 'noose' hoodie

Burberry is no longer showing the noose - Getty Images Europe
Burberry is no longer showing the noose - Getty Images Europe

Burberry has apologised and removed a "noose" from its collection after a model who walked in its London Fashion Week show complained of being "triggered" by the accessory.

Model Liz Kennedy spoke of her shock at being confronted by the knotted rope during her fitting for the show on Sunday.

Although her management has confirmed she was never asked to wear it, she said she was "ashamed to have been a part of the show."

“Suicide is not fashion,” she posted, next to a picture of the hoodie, which featured a noose. “It is not glamorous nor edgy.”

The London-based model wrote that she was disappointed the item featured, particularly since Burberry designer Riccardo Tisci had dedicated the show to girls and young women.

She said: "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.

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. 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. The issue is not about me being upset, there is a bigger picture here of what fashion turns a blind eye to or does to gain publicity. A look so ignorantly put together and a situation so poorly handled. I am ashamed to have been apart of the show. #burberry. I did not post this to disrespect the designer or the brand but to simply express an issue I feel very passionate about.

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

 "I left my fitting extremely triggered after seeing this look. 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."

After she publicly complained, all promotional material featuring the noose was removed from Burberry's website and social media feeds.

Riccardo Tisci apologised in a statement, writing: “I am so deeply sorry for the distress that has been caused as a result of one of the pieces in my show on Sunday.

Liz Kennedy walking in the show
Liz Kennedy walking in the show

"While the design was inspired by a nautical theme, I realize that it was insensitive. It was never my intention to upset anyone. It does not reflect my values nor Burberry’s and we have removed it from the collection. I will make sure that this does not happen again.”

Burberry CEO Marco Gobbetti added: “We are deeply sorry for the distress caused by one of the products that featured in our A/W 2019 runway collection Tempest. I called Ms. Kennedy to apologize as soon as I became aware of this on Monday and we immediately removed the product and all images that featured it.

“Though the design was inspired by the marine theme that ran throughout the collection, it was insensitive and we made a mistake. 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.”