D&G cancels Shanghai show amid race row

‘Our dream was to bring to Shanghai a tribute event dedicated to China which tells our history and vision’

DOLCE & GABBANA has cancelled what was set to be one of the largest fashion shows in history, following a racism and hacking row.

Designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were due to present their Dgthegreatshow in Shanghai yesterday – a multimillion pound production that would last an hour, whereas most catwalk shows last 10 minutes.

The cancellation comes after claims that the Italian fashion house’s social media accounts had been hacked, and a marketing campaign in the lead up to the event drew accusations of racism.

In a statement sent to The Daily Telegraph, the design duo said: “Our dream was to bring to Shanghai a tribute event dedicated to China which tells our history and vision.

“It was not simply a fashion show, but something that we created especially with love and passion for China.

“What happened was very unfortunate not only for us, but also for all the people who worked day and night to bring this event to life.”

Dolce & Gabbana has claimed that a series of derogatory comments about Chinese internet users, which appeared on the brand’s official social media accounts, were the result of a hack.

On Monday, a video advert was placed on social media platform Weibo that depicted a Chinese model struggling to eat Italian foods like spaghetti and pizza using chopsticks.

The film was removed from all Dolce & Gabbana platforms after less than 24 hours, as comments circulated suggesting that it presented a negative stereotype of Chinese women.