French minister compares veiled women to 'negroes who supported slavery

[Janelle2002 3,865]

French minister compares veiled women to 'negroes who supported slavery'

AFP

Fiachra Gibbons, Jean-François Guyot 11 hours ago

Paris (AFP) - A French government minister on Wednesday compared women who wear the veil to "negroes who supported slavery" amid a backlash against the growing trend for Muslim-orientated fashion.

Families minister Laurence Rossignol, sparked outrage on social media with her comment which came after former fashion mogul Pierre Berge lashed out at designers creating Islamic clothing and headscarves, accusing them of taking part in the "enslavement of women".

The businessman, partner of the late fashion legend Yves Saint Laurent, took aim at the wave of big fashion chains that have followed the Italian designers Dolce & Gabbana in catering specifically to the Muslim market.

Rosssignol, who is also responsible for women's rights, maintained she was referring to an abolitionist tract by the French philosopher Montesquieu, "On the Enslavement of Negroes", when she made her controversial comments to BFMTV and and RMC radio.

As she apologised for using the n-word, two leading French designers -- Agnes b and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac -- also came out strongly against so-called "modest" Muslim-friendly fashion.

"I am scandalised by it," Berge told Europe 1 French radio.

"Creators should have nothing to do with Islamic fashion. Designers are there to make women more beautiful, to give them their freedom, not to collaborate with this dictatorship which imposes this abominable thing by which we hide women and make them live a hidden life."

Rossignol admitted later to AFP that she had made "an error of language".

"But other than that... I don't take back a word," the socialist said.

- Modest clothing -

While France -- home of Europe's biggest Muslim population -- bans face-covering veils, some of its big fashion houses were among the first to tentatively embrace Muslim-specific style.

DKNY -- owned by French giant LVMH -- pioneered the "modest clothing" trend with a "capsule collection" aimed at the Middle East for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan two years ago.

But designer de Castelbajac, who has dressed singer Lady Gaga, said he had grave misgivings about the trend. "Fashion is secular and universal, and should bring hope."

Veteran feminist Agnes b had earlier vowed to "never do it. There is something obscene about offering clothes to rich women from countries where many are fleeing bombs trying to keep their veils on their heads.

"We should not normalise clothing which is significant in the way women are seen," she told the Parisien daily.

In January, Dolce & Gabbana became the first major western brand to directly aim at capturing a corner of the Islamic fashion market -- estimated to be worth $260 billion (230 billion euros) -- with its Abaya range.

Its collection of 14 abayas or ankle-length dresses, which it matched with embroidered headscarves and hijabs, was broadly praised at the time.

- 'Burqinis' -

The Swedish high street chain H&M followed their lead, using a veiled Muslim women in its advertising campaign, with the Japanese brand Uniqlo earlier this month announcing it would begin selling hijabs in its London stores.

The British brand Marks & Spencer has also put its toe in the water, marketing full-body "burqini" swimming costumes in its online store.

Last summer Zara, Tommy Hilfiger, Oscar de la Renta and Mango all launched varyingly "modest" collections to coincide with Ramadan.

But Berge, 85, who ran the Yves Saint Laurent fashion house for four decades, decried their "opportunism".

"These creators who are taking part in the enslavement of women should ask themselves some questions," he added.

"It is not because women are forced by their husbands to dress in that way that we too have to encourage it," he insisted.

"In one way they (the designers) are complicit, and all this to make make money. Principles should come before money," Berge argued.

"In life you have to chose the side of freedom," he said. Rather than covering women up, "we must teach (Muslim) women to revolt, to take their clothes off, to learn to live like most of the women in the rest of the world."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/fashion-mogul-accuses-designers-enslaving-women-islamic-styles-001133255.html

[Jacque67 7,328]

Is this s script from Zoolander 3?

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Is this s script from Zoolander 3?

Nope, it's real. I don't have a problem dressing with modesty nor should France have a problem with women choosing to cover certain parts of their body or not. Face covers are already illegal in their country

[Jacque67 7,328]

I think it's more about the designers complaining about their creativity cramped by religious rules ...the only reason they would go into this market is to make a quick buck. I commend the minister for speaking out...however it is only fashion.

[ExPatty 502]

It's been interesting to see where on the spectrum women's rights fall in relation to perceived racial prejudice. Puts inconsistent feminists in an awkward spot, but double standards often do that.

[smilesammich 10,727]

It's been interesting to see where on the spectrum women's rights fall in relation to perceived racial prejudice. Puts inconsistent feminists in an awkward spot, but double standards often do that.

what's the double standard?

[yuna628 9,676]

I see nothing wrong personally with D&G making fashion that is appropriate for the custom and dress of a modern day Muslim woman and marketed in those countries where wearing more modest dress (hijab and/or long dresses). Have you actually seen the ads for it? The head scarves have beautiful designs, and wealthy ladies would certainly buy them. These are not burqas. Many cultures and religions around the world entreat women to dress modestly or wear head coverings, and Muslim women are starting small in a revolution to maintain a sense of style and fashion-forwardness. Modesty to them doesn't mean you need to wear a sack.

As long as it is the woman's choice to do so. Fashion houses and designers have a long history of being hypocrites, in trying to tell women how to look, act, and feel, or what size they should be. Agnes is wrong when she says they shouldn't be making clothing to normalize how a woman is seen. They do and have always done this. The fashion industry does it all the time. Go to any store or open the pages of any magazine and you'll see.

And btw, while not on the 'high end street' market, you can find a plethora of online stores and 'how-to' sites marketed to 'Christians' who enjoy pretty much wearing 'modest' clothes... and for their kind of swimwear you can find, 'burkini' isn't far off from that.

[smilesammich 10,727]

I see nothing wrong personally with D&G making fashion that is appropriate for the custom and dress of a modern day Muslim woman and marketed in those countries where wearing more modest dress (hijab and/or long dresses). Have you actually seen the ads for it? The head scarves have beautiful designs, and wealthy ladies would certainly buy them. These are not burqas. Many cultures and religions around the world entreat women to dress modestly or wear head coverings, and Muslim women are starting small in a revolution to maintain a sense of style and fashion-forwardness. Modesty to them doesn't mean you need to wear a sack.

As long as it is the woman's choice to do so. Fashion houses and designers have a long history of being hypocrites, in trying to tell women how to look, act, and feel, or what size they should be. Agnes is wrong when she says they shouldn't be making clothing to normalize how a woman is seen. They do and have always done this. The fashion industry does it all the time. Go to any store or open the pages of any magazine and you'll see.

And btw, while not on the 'high end street' market, you can find a plethora of online stores and 'how-to' sites marketed to 'Christians' who enjoy pretty much wearing 'modest' clothes... and for their kind of swimwear you can find, 'burkini' isn't far off from that.

^^^^^so on point it should be posted twice^^^^^^^

[Janelle2002 3,865]

I see nothing wrong personally with D&G making fashion that is appropriate for the custom and dress of a modern day Muslim woman and marketed in those countries where wearing more modest dress (hijab and/or long dresses). Have you actually seen the ads for it? The head scarves have beautiful designs, and wealthy ladies would certainly buy them. These are not burqas. Many cultures and religions around the world entreat women to dress modestly or wear head coverings, and Muslim women are starting small in a revolution to maintain a sense of style and fashion-forwardness. Modesty to them doesn't mean you need to wear a sack.

As long as it is the woman's choice to do so. Fashion houses and designers have a long history of being hypocrites, in trying to tell women how to look, act, and feel, or what size they should be. Agnes is wrong when she says they shouldn't be making clothing to normalize how a woman is seen. They do and have always done this. The fashion industry does it all the time. Go to any store or open the pages of any magazine and you'll see.

And btw, while not on the 'high end street' market, you can find a plethora of online stores and 'how-to' sites marketed to 'Christians' who enjoy pretty much wearing 'modest' clothes... and for their kind of swimwear you can find, 'burkini' isn't far off from that.

Yes, if it's the woman's choice. I second that. I've seen some things in dubai so beautiful I wanted to buy them. Especially since I don't like hoods I like to wrap my head in a scarf during the winter. No winter in HI though.

Edited March 31, 2016 by Janelle2002

[Transborderwife 4,666]

I have a few friends who wear the hijab by their on choice. Their husbands let them choose as it should be. If a woman chooses to wear a burka go for it. I see many women wearing (mostly knockoff) lv, Chanel, coach headscarves as a part of their hijab and why not if they want to? (Counterfeit product aside)