Zara And The Star Of David

[sp1814]

This seems like a simple oversight.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/aug/27/zara-removes-striped-pyjamas-with-yellow-star-following-online-outrage

But what is it with newspapers nowadays? Are they addicted to the word 'outrage' even where nobody is really outraged?

[Gromit]

Chill,

Why are you posting pictures of facsimile uniforms from fiction or film?

The story behind the picture you posted for 'Conjures up this popularly held image' is...

// Orthodox Jewish children, wearing a Star of David patch and uniform similar to those the Nazis forced Jews to wear, attended a rally in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood on Saturday.

JERUSALEM — Images of ultra-Orthodox Jews dressing up as Nazi concentration camp inmates during a protest drew widespread condemnation Sunday and added a new twist to a simmering battle over growing extremism inside Israel’s insular ultra-Orthodox community. //

[tamborine]

At the Taj, indian hotel on tv, account books were offered to the Gods. The books were blessed by the guru who painted a red swastika in them.

[McMouse]

The Queen's granddaughter should know better.

[ChillDoubt]

Because as I said Gromit, those are the popularly held images that are conjured up by the average man in the street i.e. Striped uniforms and yellow stars, more a generic view if you will.

Anyway, where are your sheriff pics? I'm still waiting......

[Prudie]

Zara Marketing should have realised that some would see the similarity and binned the idea from the start. Undoubtedly designed by some jumped up Art student who actually has no idea of history.

[Mamyalynne]

Sqad,how touching - not.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

Any comment to make on the Zara handbags?

[mikey4444]

Sqad...this is womens clothing we are talking about...anything is possible !

[Gromit]

// where are your sheriff pics? I'm still waiting //

There will be no sheriff pics. just as I would not be able to find any real pictures of pirates wearing pyjamas. It is a cowboy design aimed at children. It is not a concentration camp design aimed at children.

Children wear pyjamas and they like cowboys, pirates, Spiderman etc. It is not supposed to be a replica of what cowboys wear to bed, it is a representation which is supposed to be fun for children.

[Gromit]

// Any comment to make on the Zara handbags? //

I must have missed that, what are you on about?

[zebo]

I'm cringing in remembering a trip to Alcatraz, I wore a pair of trousers with broad blue and white stripes and the guide complimented me on coming in the right uniform. I wanted the boat to capsize!

[Gromit]

AOG, found the handbag thing. Not much to say. It is an ancient symbol which now has bad associations. If they wanted to sell lots of handbags, they failed with that design.

[mikey4444]

Gromit...have you got a link to the Zara handbags please ! I hope this "ancient symbol" isn't what I think it MIGHT be !

[Gromit]

It is the third link on AOGs post on the previous page.

It was an african ethnic look handbag, and the Swaztika was used. Correct in its context, but not the best design for a handbag aimed at europeans.

[mikey4444]

Here is a Pub Quiz question ::

How many handbags does a woman need ?

Lots and lots...as many as they can cram into the bottom of their wardrobes.

[mikey4444]

Thanks Gromit...yep...that was the symbol I was afraid of !

[sp1814]

Ah...the swastika - as a symbol, it's 3,000 years old - but symbols are what we make of them. They are all about association.

A hundred years ago, a candle with barbed wire around it would have meant nothing. Now we associate it with Amnesty International...

Symbols change meanings all the time. In the 90s, if I saw a yellow smiley face, I would think 'acid house'...now I think 'emoticon'.

[mikey4444]

Pretty daft of ZARA to use it on a handbag though, wasn't it ?

[sp1814]

mikey4444

Yep...as I said earlier - makes no sense. How something could've been designed, signed off, manufactured, marketed, distributed, and finally end up being sold without someone saying, "Hang on a minute..." is truly astonishing.

[aelmpvw]

designed, signed off, manufactured, marketed, distributed, and finally end up being sold...
it probably took a sales assistant on minimum wage to say 'looks a bit iffy doesn't it?'