Fashion retailer, Zara, has removed an advertising campaign from its website and app after facing backlash and calls for a boycott by pro-Palestine activists. The campaign, which featured mannequins with missing limbs and statues wrapped in white, was criticized for its perceived resemblance to images from Gaza.
Inditex (ITX.MC), the parent company of Zara, commented that the removal of the campaign was a standard procedure in refreshing content. However, the company did not directly address the boycott calls. Inditex explained that the “Atelier” collection was conceived in July, and the photographs were taken in September, before the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict post-October 7.
The campaign faced intense scrutiny on social media, where many users posted comments the hashtag “#BoycottZara.”
Zara had initially described the collection, launched on December 7, as inspired by men’s tailoring from past centuries, featuring an artist studio aesthetic with ladders, packing materials, and wooden crates.
The reaction to Zara’s campaign highlights the heightened sensitivity and challenges that international brands face in relation to political and social issues. The incident comes amid intensifying fighting in Gaza and growing calls for boycotts of companies based on their perceived political stances.
The controversial photos, which were prominently featured on Zara’s online store home page, were removed by 1230 GMT. A link to the Zara Atelier collection on the UK website redirected to a page showcasing last year’s collection.
Zara itself faced criticism last year from both Palestinians and Israelis after the head of the retailer’s local franchise in Israel hosted a campaign event for an ultranationalist politician.
