Posted on 04/03/2021 3:10:01 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Japanese model Kiko seen in the discontinued ad campaign for Valentino’s Japan spring/summer 2021 collection. Photo: Weibo
Photos for Valentino showing Japanese model Koki walking in high heels on a traditional obi kimono belt, and wearing shoes inside, have whipped up a storm of social media criticism amid accusations the luxury Italian fashion house was “trampling on” Japanese culture.
The images, part of a promotional shoot for the Milan-headquartered company’s Japan spring/summer 2021 collection ‘Valentino Collezione Milano for Women’, show Koki sitting on an obi , which is traditionally made of the same material as a kimono and worn as a broad sash around the waist.
Other pictures show Koki, famous both as a model and for being the daughter of former boy band heartthrob Takuya Kimura of SMAP, walking on the obi in high-heel shoes and wearing shoes inside a home — a major faux pas in Japanese culture.
Social media erupted in outrage in response to the campaign, with one Twitter user declaring that seeing an obi being trodden on for a photo shoot “seems to burn in many ways”.
“This is not limited to Japan, but you should not trample on or handle traditional items of clothing roughly,” the person said.
“This makes me feel as if Japanese culture is being trampled on,” another irate commenter added, while a third said: “It’s like walking on a Valentino dress with shoes on. How would they feel about that?”
Valentino was quick to respond to the criticism, immediately withdrawing the photos and video from their official website and social media accounts.
An apology was also issued, in both Japanese and English, stating the shots “unintentionally feature the model sitting or stepping on a Japanese fabric which recalls a traditional obi and involves her wearing shoes on the doorstep or inside a Japanese traditional home”.
“The fabric unwittingly resembles the Japanese traditional obi and Maison Valentino deeply apologises for any offence caused,” it said.
The statement added that the company is committed to “nurturing a culture of inclusion on a global scale” and that it “would like to turn this event into a powerful learning moment for the brand and its community”.
That apology has proved inadequate for some, however, on the grounds that it appears to sidestep the issue by claiming the item in the photo shoot “recalls” an obi and that its use was “unintentional”.
“This ‘apology’ is just adding fuel to the fire,” said one message on social media. “This isn’t good enough – this is not an apology. I loved this brand but I’m so shocked I’ll never buy from them again,” said another.
Valentino was accused of lacking respect for Japanese culture by one Twitter user, who suggested that it would never have attempted a similar photo shoot with clothing or items that are important to Islamic culture.
Misha Janette, a Tokyo-based fashion critic and blogger, said she was shocked at the images. “As soon as I saw the pictures, I got the impression that the creative team behind the shoot just really failed to understand,” she told This Week In Asia . “I regularly work on photo shoots and I’m constantly talking with the assistants just to make sure that what we are doing is appropriate and acceptable.”
“That’s part of the job and I find it hard to believe they failed to do that on this occasion,” she said. “It’s not surprising that this has caused such offence and it was certainly a strange decision.”
Janette said she was less understanding of the continued criticism of Valentino’s apology, pointing out that the company responded quickly and was fulsome in its expression of regret.
“What else could they realistically have done in this situation?” she asked. “The company has apologised and to then criticise that apology is, I think, taking things too far.”
Valentino is not alone among Milan-headquartered Italian luxury fashion houses in having caused controversy with ad campaigns deemed culturally offensive in recent years. In 2018, Dolce & Gabbana was condemned in China for a series of adverts featuring a Chinese model using chopsticks to eat pizza, spaghetti and the Italian dessert cannoli, prompting accusations of racism.
The situation worsened when Stefano Gabbana, the co-founder of the company, described China as “a country of s***”. Brand ambassadors and models swiftly announced they would no longer work with the company and a major show in Shanghai was cancelled , while stores and online retailers in China and Hong Kong dropped the brand.
Other companies that have antagonised their client base include Paris-based Balenciaga, which was accused of racial discrimination at one of its French outlets, German fashion designer Philipp Plein, Christian Dior and Japanese cosmetics brand Pola, which was targeted after a sign appeared on the door of one its shops saying Chinese people were not permitted to enter the store.
Would someone please get that wan little thing a cheeseburger?
It is a belt worn with traditional clothing., Both men and women wear them because they literally hod together the traditional clothing of kimono.
But even more importantly one must understand that the traditional exercise of "manners" or reido invests all of Japanese interaction, even in private , intimate sexual matters.
The obi used in traditional Japanese wedding ceremony has a very important spiritual meaning, a tie that binds both virginity and passion within the brocade wedding dress of a Japanese women. The Obi being undoing by a bride for her groom is a sacred symbol of a woman offering her body to a man for the first time, in innocence , and purity.
So if you see someone trampling an obi, it is a profound cultural insult to both men and women and the mannerly way, likely a mistake by a professional Western photographer.It would be far worse than the reverse cultural faux pas often made by Japanese box stores, of putting life size Santa dolls onto crucifixes for Christmas window displays.
Women's Obis are truly magically wonderful displays of color and weaving as well, often using gold thread.They will always be deeply connected to the idea of offering one's body whether for marriage or traditional seppeku.
Uchikake formal wedding over robe
Geisha Obi over Uchikake, seductively half tied:
Perhaps we can understand the Kiko faux pas a little better.
in this day and age, i’d prefer that “wan” little thing 10 times over before I choose the fat asses we see more of...
well it is good to see how a culture defends and tries to maintain it’s roots. There is a place I know of who used to have certain guidlines of ethics and morality... but that is all disappearing without any push back at all...
New fashion? The white dress is 1968. The jacket and jeans are, maybe 1990. These “designer’s” have an easy job.
I doubt that it was a mistake.
I would rather wear the beautiful kimonos than that plain white dress.
It wasn’t.
Now let’s see if the Japanese take the attack on their tradition seriously.
Having her naked and soaping up inside an o-furo (Japanese Bath) would be more Italian advertising style.
I doubt that it was a mistake.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Maybe you’re right.
The left internationally thinks it can dehumanize all traditions.
The Japanese have very sharp instruments to apply to such Gaijin.
There’s a lot of anger towards Japan these days because they refuse to be a ‘team player’ with regard the world (such as allowing their culture to be destroyed by 3rd World refugees), so stunts like this are some of the responses.
” in this day and age, i’d prefer that “wan” little thing 10 times over before I choose the fat asses we see more of...”
Greets from Japan ! Hear hear ! I am married to one .
Today terms like... “I like em Thick” is the biggest cop out in the history of man kind! lol...
Misha Janette, a Tokyo-based fashion critic and blogger, said she was shocked at the images. “As soon as I saw the pictures, I got the impression that the creative team behind the shoot just really failed to understand,” ... . “I regularly work on photo shoots and I’m constantly talking with the assistants just to make sure that what we are doing is appropriate and acceptable.”
Where do I get a job as the final decider and arbitor of what is appropriate and acceptable.
Sounds like an easy part time gig that pays a six figure ++ salary
I moved to Japan in 1985 and have lived here ever since but was aware of the “ booty “ thing . Personally speaking , don’t get it .
Thank you for your interesting explanation.
Well why are there obi strips along the left side packaging of Japanese CDs, LPs, LDs. etc?
And among collectors (even on ebay) they WANT the obi strip to be there.
Everything old is new again.
Fashion comes around in cycles and nobody will be wearing a meat dress on the street or out to dinner and a show.
The growing global mono-culture (1) ignores diversity in values of peoples, (2) wants no diversity in values of peoples, and (3) will when it can trample on diversity in values of people.
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