Anais Gutierrez
Miley Cyrus took Instagram to slam Dolce & Gabbana and their politics, on Saturday. This is not the first time that the Italian fashion house’s been criticized and it’s all regarding First Lady Melania Trump.
The most recent events involving the brand, include a catwalk show boycotted by one of its high profile models in the show.
Slamming Dolce & Gabbana
Over the weekend, Miley Cyrus took Instagram to congratulate her brother, Braison Cyrus, over his very first Dolce & Gabbana catwalk show. However, it might be the last D&G show for him, as Miley also decided to address the Italian fashion house’s politics and ignited a feud.
In the Instagram post, Miley praised her brother’s newest endeavor with the sweetest words. Miley pointed out that even when Braison is a very talented musician he gave it a try to modeling, because why not? She went on by delivering some words to Dolce & Gabbana.
Miley added, “PS D&G, I STRONGLY disagree with your politics…but I do support your company’s effort to celebrate young artists & give them the platform to shine their light for all to see!” The comment came after the Italian fashion house facesd backlash for dressing First Lady Melania Trump.
The debate over dressing Melania
Dressing First Lady Melania, has become somewhat of a tricky topic for fashion designers. With the #GrabYourWallet campaign threatening to boycott brands associated with the administration, it makes sense that many designers would be wary. In fact, prior to the Presidential Inauguration, some even went as far as to write official statements saying they will not dress the First Lady.
However, there has been one brand that has consistently stated their affinity for Melania and made it known that they are proud to dress her. Stefano Gabbana, designer for the iconic fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, took his Instagram for the second time this year to thank Melania for wearing his look.
While the first instance was simply a dress for a party, this latest look takes it a step further: her official White House portrait. On Instagram, Stefano posted the photo with the caption, “#DGWoman BEAUTIFUL #melaniatrump Thank you #madeinitaly” alongside a slew of Emojis.
Stefano Gabbana didn’t hold back and fired back at Cyrus
Even when Miley’s comment seemed quite democratic and not harming, it didn’t take designer Stefano Gabbana long to bite back at the singer. First, Gabbana claimed that he would never work with Braison Cyrus again over Miley’s publication.
Then the Italian designer posted the same photo on his account with a statement.
The post read in Italian and in English, “We are Italian and we don’t care about politics and mostly neither about the American one! […]”
“We make dresses and if you think about doing politics with a post it’s simply ignorant. We don’t need your posts or comments so next time please ignore us!! […] #boycottdolcegabbana,” he added. Founders Gabbana and Domenico Dolce have also made controversial comments about gay adoption and in vitro fertilization.
Following the brand’s latest political controversy, the brand decided to produce a $245 “#BoycottDolce&Gabbana” shirts and even shot a promotional film centered on a staged protest.
Raury’s protest on a D&G catwalk
During the Dolce & Gabbana men’s show in Milan, a model protested the label on the catwalk. At the show’s finale, Raury, an up-and-coming from R&B singer from Georgia. Stripped off his top to reveal message he had written on his skin, including “Protest D&G.”
Raury’s protest comes for two things about the Italian fashion house. First, the brand’s use of millenials as a way to reach new audience. And second, the brand’s particular un-millenial view of political expression.
Over the last years, Dolce & Gabbana has doubled on the millenial influencers trend, not only on the designs but also casting pretty young things on its runways. While this is a way to support rising talent, as Miley pointed out in her post, is also a pretty direct and extreme way to get to millennials.
Raury felt upset about the brand’s appropriation of it and diss of all political view. The musician told GQ that he first arrived in Milan to walk the show without being aware of the recent D&G controversies.
He took some time to do a search and he found news stories about the designer’s recent #Boycott shirt. And he was not please.
Raury was particularly upset about the fact that the brand’s campaign was protraying boycott as a joke. “It was a troll. Me, as a young man from Stone Mountain, Georgia, the birthplace of the Klu Klux Klan, I really felt this mockery of boycotting,” he said.
“Boycotting matters. Boycotting is real. Dolce’s entire campaign says it’s not real. I know that if I walk out there and support or endorse anything that sits next to Trump—or support someone who even makes dinner for Trump or whatever—then that means that I support Trump also,” he added.
So he decided to send a message. “I have to let people know that I don’t support Trump and I don’t support those who are trying to undermine the voice of the people,” he said.
Source: Teen Vogue
