Photography by Victor Boyko/Getty Images
By Louise Coleman
More than 150 years after the American Civil War and 50 years after the civil rights movement, we’re pretty sure that using the term “slave” to denote a style of dress still ain’t kosher. Apparently Vogue Italia didn’t get the message. An article for the magazine’s website headlined “slave earrings” has caused a major outcry, resulting in editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani apologizing and citing “really bad translation.”
The article stated, “Jewellery has always flirted with circular shapes, especially for use in making earrings. The most classic models are the slave and creole styles in gold hoops.” The piece then goes on to explain that the word “slave” should inspire thoughts of “women of colour” during the slave trade—an image of “pure freedom.” Umm, what?
After twenty pages of (mostly) furious comments and a barrage of negative tweets, the article has since been removed from the website.
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