H&M upsets shoppers with scarf resembling Jewish prayer shawl
H&M has found itself in hot water for producing a scarf which strongly resembles the Jewish tallit prayer shawl.
The controversy comes after the high street chain was forced to remove a t-shirt featuring a skull inside the middle of a Star of David.
Dear @hm - will you sell burqa ponchos also? ~ This H&M Scarf Looks Suspiciously Like a Tallit https://t.co/exDpcWtiyp via @jdforward
— Allen Haberberg (@gabbynoonyraffy) January 7, 2016
Because it has never been so "on trend" to be Jewish! This H&M Scarf Looks Suspiciously Like a Tallit https://t.co/NAFbdSLsyL — BevL (dandiedinmont) (@dandiedinmont) January 7, 2016Anyone need a tallit? H&M is on it... pic.twitter.com/n3bi5bsmDN — ST (@Hidden_Gold) January 6, 2016Dear Fashion: Please step off other ppl's ritual items (or symbols of liberation, really.) https://t.co/NGZ6jYqp48 pic.twitter.com/bXIQuX1JRx — Rav Danya Ruttenberg (@TheRaDR) January 6, 2016
Speaking to the Independent's i100, an H&M spokesperson said: "We are truly sorry if we have offended anyone with this piece. Everyone is welcome at H&M and we never take a religious or political stand. Stripes are one of the trends for this season and something we were inspired by. Our intention was never to upset anyone."
When asked if they had any plans to remove the item, H&M revealed that quantities were "small" so the product was "no longer available in some markets".