Protest in front of ZARA in Manhattan demanding “Boycott Zara Free Palestine” on December 11, 2023. Video by Sam Hartson (FreedomNewsTV)
An advertising campaign by Zara, a major fashion chain, sparked a #BoycottZara backlash on social media for allegedly being insensitive to Gaza war victims.
In the campaign for the Atelier line, titled “Collection 04_The Jacket,” model Kristen McMenamy stands in front of props, including limbless mannequins encased in white plastic and surrounded by debris. Other models behind her were covered in dust and dressed in white.
Pro-Palestinian supporters compared the packaged mannequins to the body bags used for Palestinians in Gaza killed in the war against Israel.
People carry body bags at the mortuary of Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza, on October 25, 2023. Critics said Zara's ads resembled the body bags used for Palestinians. (Abed Zagout/Anadolu via / Getty Images)
The images were first posted on Thursday to promote the chain's clothing line, but gained new attention on Monday after people on social media began linking the mannequins to victims of the Israel-Gaza war, and the # BoycottZara started trending on X, formerly known as Twitter. The controversial photos have since been removed from the company's official website.
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Demonstrators protested outside Zara in Manhattan on Monday, accusing the company of “genocide.” Leaflets distributed by demonstrators read “Zara: Fast Fashion for Fascists.”
Photos and videos on social media show Zara stores in several other countries facing protests and even vandalism.
In a comment to Portal, Inditex, the owner of Zara, insisted the images were published as part of its regular “content update” process. It was also explained that the design was conceived in July and the photos were taken in September. The war began on October 7 after Hamas militants invaded Israel and massacred over 1,000 people.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Inditex for comment.
Some people claimed that Zara's images resembled the rubble in Gaza after Israeli airstrikes. (Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images)
Most of the related images on Zara's X and Instagram accounts have been removed since the controversy, but others without the wrapped mannequins remain visible.
Zara's contributions to The Jacket previously described it as “a limited edition from the house that celebrates our commitment to craftsmanship and our passion for artistic expression.”
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“Garment by garment, ZARA ATELIER reevaluates the paradigms of fashion design in order to reinvent them. The theme for the atelier’s experiments in creating uniqueness this season was the jacket,” says Zara’s report. “The result is an outstanding suite of eye-catching pieces – each acting as a prism through which the wearer’s unique mood and attitude is amplified and revealed.”
The company has not yet directly commented on the viral boycott call; Zara is expected to report its latest quarterly results on Wednesday.
#BoycottZara was trending over the weekend after the fashion company unveiled images of its new line. (/Getty Images)
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