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The infamous Calvin Klein ad (1980) -

In 1980, a 15-year-old Brooke Shields became the face of Calvin Klein and starred in one of the most talked-about ads of the era. Wearing a pair of the brand's blue jeans, she delivered the line: "You want to know what comes in between me and my Calvins? Nothing." There was considerable backlash of the ad, which was banned from several networks for sexualizing a teenager. Shields is pictured here with Calvin Klein himself. 

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Jean-Paul Gaultier's "Rabbi Chic" collection (1993) -

The designer's collection featured models in Hasidic-inspired clothing, which was criticized for his insensitive use of religious attire for fashion.

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Accused of simulating child pornography (1995) -

Calvin Klein's controversial ad campaign featured young models in jeans, posing seductively, sparking accusations of simulating child pornography. Even President Bill Clinton called it "outrageous." Public backlash led to a Justice Department inquiry, but since none of the models were minors, no charges were filed.

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Alexander McQueen's questionable collection (1995) -

Alexander McQueen's show depicted models in torn dresses and bruised makeup, a commentary on the historical oppression of Scotland by England, which was misinterpreted as glorifying violence against women.

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Tom Ford's "pubic hair" ads for Gucci (2003) -

A campaign for Gucci, designed by Tom Ford, showed a model with the brand's logo shaved into her pubic hair. This sparked massive outrage for its overt sexualization.

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Karl Lagerfeld's fat-shaming remarks (2009) -

Karl Lagerfeld famously remarked that "no one wants to see curvy women on the runway," which sparked outrage.

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John Galliano's anti-semitic rant (2011) -

John Galliano was fired from Dior after a video surfaced of him making anti-Semitic comments in a Paris bar. This led to his fall from grace as one of the industry's most influential designers. Since 2014, Galliano has been the creative director of Maison Margiela.

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Hedi Slimane's redesign of Saint Laurent (2012) -

The designer rebranded Yves Saint Laurent to "Saint Laurent," removing "Yves" from the iconic label. This move upset fashion purists and long-time fans of the fashion house.

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Victoria's Secret's cultural appropriation (2012) -

The lingerie brand was accused of cultural appropriation when model Karlie Kloss wore a Native American headdress down the runway, forcing the company to issue an apology.

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Chanel's Native American headdress (2013) -

At a Dallas fashion show, Chanel also used Native American headdresses and imagery in its collection. This led to accusations of cultural appropriation and disrespect toward Indigenous cultures.

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Chanel's supermarket show (2014) -

Karl Lagerfeld transformed the Grand Palais into a mock supermarket for Chanel's fall/winter 2014 show, sparking debates over luxury's appropriation of everyday aesthetics.

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Rick Owens' human backpacks (2015) -

For his spring/summer 2016 runway show, Rick Owens sent models down the runway wearing other models as "backpacks." This sparked debates about objectification and human imagery in fashion.

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Dolce & Gabbana's anti-IVF remarks (2015) -

Designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana sparked outrage when they criticized IVF and labeled children born via the method as "synthetic," leading to boycotts by celebrities like Elton John.

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Marc Jacobs' use of dreadlocks (2016) -

During New York Fashion Week in 2016, Marc Jacobs sparked controversy by sending mostly white models down the runway wearing dreadlocks for his spring collection. Critics accused him of cultural appropriation.

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Terry Richardson accused of sexual misconduct (2017) -

The famous fashion photographer faced numerous accusations of sexual misconduct, leading to major publications and brands cutting ties with him after years of controversial behavior on photoshoots. He hasn't actively worked as a photographer since 2018. 

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Dior's "We Should All Be Feminists" t-shirts (2017) -

Dior's feminism-themed t-shirts, priced at US$920, was criticized as turning a social movement into a fashion trend without addressing the real struggles behind the message.

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Chanel's rocket launch (2017) -

Karl Lagerfeld's decision to launch a mock rocket at the end of Chanel's fall/winter 2017 show led to environmental concerns and criticism over the excess of luxury fashion.

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Victoria's Secret fat-shaming backlash (2018) -

Ed Razek, the chief marketing officer of Victoria's Secret, made controversial comments dismissing the inclusion of plus-size and transgender models, saying the lingerie company's annual shows were "a fantasy" and shouldn't include them. Prompting a massive backlash, Razek later said his remarks were "insensitive."

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Protest on the runway (2019) -

During Gucci's Milan Fashion Week runway show, model Ayesha Tan-Jones protested the brand's use of straitjackets in its campaign. Tan-Jones raised their hands, displaying the message: "Mental health is not fashion," to express their objection.

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Gucci's blackface sweater (2019) -

Gucci faced backlash for releasing a balaclava-style sweater, similar to the image, resembling blackface. It was pulled from stores after heavy criticism over its racial insensitivity.

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Rihanna's lingerie show with sacred Islamic texts (2020) -

During a Savage X Fenty show, the song 'Doom' by artist Coucou Chloe, which featured remixed Islamic hadiths (sacred texts), played as models in lingerie walked the runway. The backlash led to a public apology from Rihanna.

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Fashion Institute of Technology's (FIT) controversial show (2020) -

The FIT hosted a catwalk show for the school's inaugural class, which led to an internal investigation and the suspension of two administrators. The New York Times reported that student Junkai Huang suggested models wear controversial accessories by administrators, including oversized lips and "monkey" ears. One model refused, calling them "clearly racist."

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A tribute gone wrong (2020) -

German designer Philipp Plein faced criticism for his fall/winter 2020 runway show, which he dedicated to the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant. The show featured two golden helicopters, leaving many with a negative impression.

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Alexander Wang accused of sexual assault (2020) -

Multiple allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against designer Alexander Wang, leading to industry-wide discussions about abuse and misconduct within fashion. He spoke with his accusers in 2022 and published an apology on Instagram. 

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Comme des Garçons' white models in cornrow wigs (2020) -

Japanese fashion label Comme des Garçon was accused of cultural appropriation when it featured white models wearing cornrow wigs on its fall/winter 2020 show in Paris. 

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Giorgio Armani's bad comparison (2020) -

Giorgio Armani faced backlash for his remarks suggesting the fashion industry "rapes" women through fleeting trends and sexualized marketing. Critics condemned his choice of language as trivializing sexual violence. The Italian designer had stated, "Women keep getting raped by designers, by us," prompting widespread criticism.

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Tiffany & Co.'s "blood diamond" scandal (2021) -

When Beyoncé was featured in a Tiffany campaign wearing a rare yellow diamond, the internet pointed out its troubled colonial origins, sparking debates on ethical sourcing and "blood diamonds." The 128-carat diamond was previously seen on Audrey Hepburn and Lady Gaga.

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Balenciaga's inappropriate campaign (2022) -

The campaign featuring images of children with teddy bears dressed in bondage gear led to accusations of promoting inappropriate content, forcing the brand to apologize. Kim Kardashian, an ambassador for Balenciaga, said on X that as a mother of four, she was "shaken by the disturbing images."

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Schiaparelli's "lion head" dress (2023) -

At Paris Fashion Week, Irina Shayk and Kylie Jenner both wore a dress featuring a lifelike lion's head, sparking controversy over its animal symbolism in fashion. The brand clarified that the lion's head was faux.

Sources: (The Guardian) (Independent) (Business Insider) (People) (Katie Couric Media) 

See also: Strangest fashion to ever hit the runways

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