Allesandro Dell’Acqua & More Wear Blackface To African Party *Update* Another Party

[masquerade]

oh, I completely agree! I've been snooping around other forums engaging in this discussion and some members are justifying this and feeling as if there's no issue at all because they aren't American and thus blackface is an American thing. But as you said, one's ethnicity isn't a costume or something to even joke about.
The only reason I mentioned American is because the hatred root blackface has within the country and the minstrel shows that occurred after the civil war. I was referring to that poster I replied to that needs to do research why blackface is wrong. It baffles me that it doesn't bug him/or her.

I feel like anyone who is making this claim is being purposefully dense. Alessandro did not just dress up in blackface. He dressed up as a specific image of minstrelsy, which is American. In order for him to know to dress up that way, he has to know about minstrel shows, looked up the images, have some clue about them, and know they are insulting. There is no way he just decided to paint his face black in that style and wear that outfit. He was specifically referencing something hateful and part of American culture and knew exactly what he was doing.

As for the others, still offensive. A person's identity, history, and race is not a costume.

I am shocked and saddened that there hasn't been more response to this. I was hoping for something like Galliano.

 

[LagerfeldBoy]

Halloween is the only day people dress offensively, I understand the historical terms around blackface but yeah I don't think it's a big f***ing deal.

I'm assuming you're not black? Hmm...

 

[LagerfeldBoy]

Apparently, the party was hosted by Giampaolo Sgura (idk if that was mentioned on the first page) Anyway, there's some idiot justifying their actions on Sgura's Facebook by saying it's American's viewing everything from a U.S. perspective and not acknowledging that Italians didn't go through the civil war/black issues, etc etc. I mean, you must be some fu**** up individual to think this is okay. Slavery was everywhere, not solely the US.
https://www.facebook.com/giampaolo.sgura.3?fref=ts

 

[Flashbang]

Miguel Arnau just post this on his instagram page, instagram.com/marnau

As the organizers of the fashion party “Hallowood Disco Africa”, we would like to sincerely apologize that this private party offended so many people. It was never our intention to do so. We had named the party “Disco Africa” to reflect the growing influence of Africa in the design and fashion world, not only as a growing market but also as the source of creative ideas. In retrospect, we clearly failed to think through the possible negative consequences and interpretations that might have resulted and appeared in both traditional and social media. These interpretations are all the more upsetting because most people in the fashion industry, from which we come, have always taken a strong stand against social discrimination whether on sexual, religious or racial grounds. Creative talent is what counts, not a person’s social, racial, religious or sexual background. We’re so sorry that we failed to make our position clear and gave the impression of racism. We are now much wiser and will do our very best to clarify our position in the future.
#hallowood2013 #discoafrica

 

[GERGIN]

Miguel Arnau just post this on his instagram page, instagram.com/marnau

Basically they'll try to avoid placing their events like this in social media, it's quite funny that they're not really trying to apologize, in fact, they're only apologizing that the viewers failed to see it was not an attempt to be discriminatory. Rather than apologizing that the concept was a bad idea. Yes it's obvious that this fashion season served a more diverse transition with what the model castings and inspirations, but if you're going to throw events like that, don't get it in the media lol.

I still don't really care though, but I will say that's a pretty stupid apology, it shares the same stupidity over that so-called offensive black face model (earlier this year I believe?)

 

[LANZO_358]

*smh* Those wearing blackface know exactly what they're doing. Blackface has never been a part of African culture but instead a European lampooned representation - Zwarte Piet (Netherlands) and Tintin (Belgium) are two noted examples - therefore I don't see the relevance at an African themed party.

Given the recent pressure on designers for more diversity in fashion, especially in European cities like Milan, and the race rancour in Italy where their first black minister is being called the most abhorrent names and likened to a primate, this response isn't surprising. In fact, it is just further evidence of the bigotry and provincialism of that city.

 

[Psylocke]

Miguel Arnau just post this on his instagram page, instagram.com/marnau

"These interpretations are all the more upsetting because most people in the fashion industry, from which we come, have always taken a strong stand against social discrimination whether on sexual, religious or racial grounds."

Really?

Yeah, agree with everyone, this was not just an innocent, fun idea gone wrong - it all looks they they were intentionally mocking black people and African culture and history with those lame "costumes". Pathetic.

 

[Phuel]

^^^ I think they're just a bunch of blissfully, ignorant people, and don't realize how insensitive, offensive and plain hurtful what they're doing really is-- not to mention how stupid they're coming across, including Allesandro Dell' Acqua.

An Africa/ African-theme party isn't offensive. Chinese, Japanese and East Indian cultures have often been plundered as inspirations for everything from couture to consumer decorations, so Africa is fair game. Oftentimes, so many people, as Urban Stylin has said, overreact to anything in fashion referencing black people/ culture (and may I add, turn a blind eye when other races are exploited).

Africa is so rich, exotic and joyous in visuals it really is a great theme for any extravagant event. Besides the costumes of the many indigenous tribes, there are the animals for inspiration: Horns of antelopes and the manes of lions would look, and have looked amazing as costumes. I don't find it offensive to dress in the traditional costumes of the Massai tribe, this could be tributary even-- but i find it incredibly insensitive for these revelers to paint themselves "black". I would prefer to conclude that this decision was made out of ignorance, and not out of mockery of Africans. (in the first pic, Juan-- whoever he is, is wearing a tiger-print... There are no tigers in Africa. And as many have mentioned, blackface is not African. So I honestly think these people are just plain stupid, and not defiantly racist). A deliberate mockery is only too severely embarrassing to themselves.

 

[Cold]

Sgura's response has such a huge lapse in common sense. I can't with that comparison to museums...

elitistfashionista.tumblr

 

[Psylocke]

... I would prefer to conclude that this decision was made out of ignorance, and not out of mockery of Africans. (in the first pic, Juan-- whoever he is, is wearing a tiger-print... There are no tigers in Africa. And as many have mentioned, blackface is not African. So I honestly think these people are just plain stupid, and not defiantly racist). A deliberate mockery is only too severely embarrassing to themselves.

I would tend to agree if they had only painted their face/skin black, but there are people dressed up as slaves at that party... how is that just ignorance and stupidity and not intentional racism and mockery?
I agree with everything else you said, though. And either way, all of this is just inexcusable and absolutely embarrassing.


ETA: I just can't with Sgura's comment about slaves...

 

[Phuel]

^^^ Because they're truly that stupid... And Sgura's comment cements this. I feel anyone is completely right in calling them racists, I'm not dismissing that at all. I just want to give another side to this mess, because the fashion industry are full of really unintelligent people, and this event perfectly exemplifies that.

Any conscientious individual would clearly see how wrong, and as a defiant display of blatant racism these "costumes" are, but these people clearly can't... And, seeing the reactions in the aftermath, would apologize for their ignorance. You're expecting them to have the same frame of mind/ social and cultural reference as an average, conscientious person. But, as Sgura has clearly proved how clueless and just how unintelligent he is-- and most likely, the majority of these revelers' attitudes are, and unfortunately, may remain, that he/ they can't identify the gapping difference between the anthropological and historical display in a museum-- which is to document and educate, to a mere party costume worn to a fashion party. He's an idiot.

BTW, even if these idiots weren't so clueless, just the domain names are pure douchery: "stylishpeopleonly" and "elitistfashionista". Adults with the mentality of 15-year-old dumb, mean girls. Embarrassing.

 

[MulletProof]

Armau's 'I'm sorry you failed to get it' apology is kind of expected, he's not going to compromise his interests by acknowledging the intent of his guests.

I'm seriously baffled by Sgura's post though ... the absence of minimal reasoning, the kindergarden level fallacies, the lack of commas and capitals, the insensitivity, the poor attempt to vilify critics to excuse himself. You can definitely tell this dysfunctional social being fully expresses himself through his gadget, every time I looked at the result, I always knew there was nothing past it.

 

[Phuel]

^^^ "...the lack of commas and capitals..."

 

[MulletProof]

^ probably the most offensive part of his post for me ... you're writing an apology, idiot!

 

[TREVOFASHIONISTO]

on top of being a poor man's Mert & Marcus, Sgura is also an ignorant racist... go figure

 

[masquerade]

Africa is so rich, exotic and joyous in visuals it really is a great theme for any extravagant event. Besides the costumes of the many indigenous tribes, there are the animals for inspiration: Horns of antelopes and the manes of lions would look, and have looked amazing as costumes. I don't find it offensive to dress in the traditional costumes of the Massai tribe, this could be tributary even-- but i find it incredibly insensitive for these revelers to paint themselves "black". I would prefer to conclude that this decision was made out of ignorance, and not out of mockery of Africans. (in the first pic, Juan-- whoever he is, is wearing a tiger-print... There are no tigers in Africa. And as many have mentioned, blackface is not African. So I honestly think these people are just plain stupid, and not defiantly racist). A deliberate mockery is only too severely embarrassing to themselves.

I don't know how dressing up as a minstrel character, which is specifically something meant to mock black people, is not a conscious mockery. You cannot know enough about those images to dress up as them without knowing that they are a mockery.

Sgura's response has such a huge lapse in common sense. I can't with that comparison to museums...


elitistfashionista.tumblr

what a disgusting response. I can't see what the intention was of dressing like slaves for an African party, if not to represent slavery. Its even worse that he is blaming those who were offended of making something out of nothing. Sure, you are such the victim here.

 

[Firefly216]

Why the surprise?
The Fashion industry keeps making a fool of themselves

 

[dsamg]

These interpretations are all the more upsetting because most people in the fashion industry, from which we come, have always taken a strong stand against social discrimination whether on sexual, religious or racial grounds.

When has the fashion industry taken a "strong" stand against racism? Did I miss something?

 

[Yendor]

How can ANYONE look in the mirror and find that costume acceptable?? Flabbergasting lack of judgement/insight. Who knew he was so stupid.

 

[HeatherAnne]

You can definitely tell this dysfunctional social being fully expresses himself through his gadget, every time I looked at the result, I always knew there was nothing past it.

Totally. And we are bombarded by his work in every Vogue imaginable, not to mention other magazines. It kills me, but especially now.