HK store's Nazi theme sparks fury

[Muddleoftheroad]

HONG KONG, China (AP) -- German and Israeli diplomats have lashed out at a Hong Kong fashion company for using swastikas and other Nazi party symbols in a clothing line and to decorate its chain of stores.

The firm, which calls itself http://www.izzue.com., produced a range of T-shirts and pants with Nazi symbols printed on them. One T-shirt has a portrait of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler standing on a laurel.

Red banners with white swastikas on top of iron crosses hung Saturday from the ceilings of some of the firm's 14 stores. The banners also carried a sign that resembled the symbol of the Third Reich: an eagle above a swastika. One branch broadcast Nazi propaganda films on a wall with a projector.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/east/08/10/hk.store.ap/index.html

OK, I know the issue of antisemitism comes a lot around here, so I think something this nuts is important. If you are ever on either side of that debate, please take a look at this.

Nazi clothes. Nazi imagery. Nazi marketing. And, ALLEGEDLY, they didn't think there was anything wrong with it!

Has the world gone this far wrong that anything edgy is OK, no matter how inappropriate?

[DUreader]

1. Lets see what happens, will they scrap it or 'make a buck'?

Will the operation be profitable?

Or will the heat be unbearable enough that they close up shop?

This could be an important test of the state of humanity today.

[DagmarK]

2. I don't look at this as just anti-semitic......it's ANTI-SOCIAL.....

It's an affront to every person on earth -- including the germans.

And it's a maddening example of a world gone wrong...way wrong......

[Eloriel]

3. Oh, I wouldn't call it "edgy" or even inappropriate

I'd call it utterly frightening.

If you haven't noticed, we've had a rise in REAL fascism lately -- sadly, right here in the U.S. But there are far rightwing elements elsewhere -- Italy, Spain. It's only natural, I suppose, that "art" and fashion reflect it. Odd that it's happening in Hong Kong.

I wonder who's behind this? (I'll have to read the article.)

Eloriel

[DUreader]

4. Side note:

Nice to find something that I agree with you about, muddle.

They definitely knew this would be extremely controversial and

were hoping for massive and maybe quick profits from free publicity

[DagmarK]

5. One other REALLY disturbing thing.......

""It's totally inappropriate because these symbols of the Nazi regime stand for cruelty and crimes against humanity," a vice consul of the German Consulate General in Hong Kong said on condition of anonymity. "These symbols brought a lot of pain not only over Europe, but over the whole world. ... It's definitely not the way to promote clothes."


*****Now, whhy would a vice counsel of the Germ Consulate General in HK feel the NEED to speak out on the record ANONYMOUSLY???

It isn't just the sickos who would put out a line of products like this; It's the REACTION to the line that scares the bejesus out of me.

Wouldn't you want your name in lights when you spoke out against cromes against humanity???? Wouldn't the HEAD guy in the Consulate want to issue the opinion? Why do they feel the need to lay back on this? That creeps me out!

[DUreader]

7. That is very strange.

I can't think of a valid reason for anonimity here.

Could it be someone holding back while an official German Gov't.

response is crafted and approved? Not an adequate excuse, for sure,

but a possible explanation, typical of the beauracratic process.

[Wonder]

9. oh yeah

like Israel's occupation is above cruelty.

[Wonder]

10. and didn't GOI support SA Apartheid too.

they sold the dutch arms to fight all the SA rock throwers as well. diamonds seemed a very good investment - eh? This is hypocracy (and irony) at it's most poetic.

[Kellanved]

13. beauracracy

German civil servants aren't allowed to talk to the press without a permission.
Besides: probably is a "official" response in preparation, and they're trying to keep it diplomatic.

Edit:
I suspect this line for being the reason:
--snip
The diplomat urged the public to boycott the shops.
--snap
He doesn't want to be sued.

[mitchum]

6. Nazi-chic is soooo 70s

I guess they will discover disco next

[Wonder]

8. Interesting its okay for Israel

to get in bed with neo nazi's (and ignore all the interesting nazi germany parallels) but the nazi symbolism they find offensive. go figure.

[Name removed]

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[Wonder]

19. sorry what point was that?

I am not following you...was this thread a test? Please explain.

[Name removed]

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[Wonder]

23. ....

see the post below NASA we had a dupe.

[Wonder]

24. you misunderstood my parallel very common here at DU

i was likening the US to neonazi's... although Sharon's fascist leanings do not escape me either. Are you implying that this opinion makes me anti-semitic... please... save your tomatoes for those that are REALLY anti-semitic... it seems your sensorial equipment might need a change of batteries... because you are way off on read here.

[Name removed]

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[Wonder]

36. and one more thing

I did not interpret this thread as being about antisemitism... It was about nihilistic trends in fashion and Israel's response to the trend...
nilihistic and military trends in fashion are not exclusive to the new millenium... from a fashion perspective and an artistic perspective it can be interpreted as a mirror of our times... a comment on the nazi parallels to germany 1933- 1938...

That a designers choice is interpreted as antisemitic is a whole other conversation...

You have jumped the gun there muddeloftheroad... considering I have had very little dialogue with you since my arrival. And that is as far as my defense will go as I have nothing to defend in terms of anti-semitism.

if you are going to police that issue... I suggest you make sure it is an antisemite that you are really talking to. otherwise it just comes off as slander and libel... your imput here is insulting and way off the mark.

Apparently you have an agenda of your own.

[Wonder]

11. My guess

they could export to the garment district and since it seems GOA has never really squashed the KKK... the line would sell... and GOA would do nothing about it... Why? because liberty in this country in terms of the bill of rights and freedom of speech would protect them... It would be an interesting phenomenon to watch really. Take the KKK on South Carolina beaches every 4th of July they do their confederate flag parade...and one could argue the KKK is synonymous with the aryan nation and they are WHITE ONLY groups who have a bit of affection for nazi symbolism... yet they have not been put on lists as terrorists ... nor have they been targeted for any kind of crackdown... after 9/11 were any of those groups profiled? not to my knowledge... FBI instead did an Arab dragnet... hypocrasies abound.... now don't they?

[Clete]

12. Fabulous.

Now I know where to do my Christmas shopping for all my Republican incumbents, starting with my congressman, Representative Bill Thomas, right up to George Bush, Dick Cheney and the Presidential Cabinet.

[Wonder]

14. LOL

that's a thought!

[cosmicdot]

15. "criticized as highly insensitive"

well, d'oh ... there's a no brainer

I'm, like, so sure it never crossed anyone's mind - riiiiiight.


seems to be a sign of the times: stupididty

[2cents]

17. One thing's for sure

CNN just gave that company millions of dollars worth of advertising for free. I bet sales will be booming.

The more verboten something is, especially clothes, the more desirable they'll be.

[Muddleoftheroad]

18. Up to a point

There are limits on that theory. I hope this has gone beyond those limits into an area where people will shun them.

[Wonder]

21. what reality do you thrive on....

I am a little confused... probably because I am an artist... it seems the HK fashion move could be a mirror of those messages they are picking up in the world right now... am I the only one who sees the hypocracies and ironies at play here?

I am confused you must expound... because I can not seem to get a handle on your point of view here. Which is okay... but I thought I would ask anyway.

[Muddleoftheroad]

22. You seem to be the only confused one

Like your post about neonazis.

[Wonder]

25. the confusion is most definitely yours

and your presumptions are way off target... but I guess you live in the black n white... very common dis-ease these days... carry on.

[Wonder]

26. but just in case confusion remains

pat yourself on your back there muddleoftheroad me thinks you think you've outted an anti-semite... good job!

[Muddleoftheroad]

28. I only comment

On the posts as written.

[Wonder]

30. you are way off read darlin'

and I have alerted the mods... who died and made you the anti-semitic police?

[Name removed]

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