Chinese websites drop D&G over ‘racist’ ad

CHINESE shopping websites have removed Dolce & Gabbana products amid a growing backlash against an advertising campaign that was decried as racist by celebrities and on social media.

The advertisements – released earlier this week to drum up interest in a Shanghai fashion show that the Italian brand later cancelled – featured a Chinese woman struggling to eat spaghetti and pizza with chopsticks.

The blunder was compounded when screenshots were circulated online of a private Instagram conversation in which the brand’s designer Stefano Gabbana is alleged to have made a reference to “China Ignorant Dirty Smelling Mafia” and used the smiling poo emoji to describe the country. The brand said Gabbana’s account had been hacked.

The furore threatened to grow into a big setback for one of Italy’s bestknown fashion brands in a crucial market where rivals are vying to expand.

Chinese customers account for more than a third of spending on luxury products worldwide, and are increasingly shopping for these at home rather than on overseas trips.

China’s Kaola, an e-commerce platform belonging to China’s Netease Inc, confirmed it had removed Dolce & Gabbana products, while luxury goods retailer Secoo said it removed the brand’s listings on Wednesday evening.

On Yoox Net-a-porter – owned by Cartier parent Richemont and a leading online high-end retailer – the label’s wares were no longer available on its platforms within China. The company declined to comment. Checks yesterday also showed pages that previously linked to Dolce & Gabbana items on the e-commerce sites hosted by Alibaba Group Holding and Jd.com were no longer available.

Neither responded to requests for comment, and Dolce & Gabbana did not comment on the retailers’ moves.