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| D&G: China shopping sites pull products in ad backlash | D&G: China shopping sites pull products in ad backlash |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Dolce & Gabbana products have been pulled from Chinese e-commerce sites as the backlash against a controversial ad campaign grows. | Dolce & Gabbana products have been pulled from Chinese e-commerce sites as the backlash against a controversial ad campaign grows. |
| The firm posted videos this week showing a Chinese model struggling to eat pasta with chopsticks. | The firm posted videos this week showing a Chinese model struggling to eat pasta with chopsticks. |
| The brand also apologised for social media posts criticising Chinese people, saying it had been hacked. | The brand also apologised for social media posts criticising Chinese people, saying it had been hacked. |
| The controversy risks alienating D&G from one of the world's biggest luxury markets. | The controversy risks alienating D&G from one of the world's biggest luxury markets. |
| The Italian firm cancelled its fashion show in Shanghai earlier this week over the issue. | The Italian firm cancelled its fashion show in Shanghai earlier this week over the issue. |
| It later said co-founder Stefano Gabbana's accounts were hacked and used to criticise Chinese people. | It later said co-founder Stefano Gabbana's accounts were hacked and used to criticise Chinese people. |
| "We have nothing but respect for China and the people of China," the apology message read. | "We have nothing but respect for China and the people of China," the apology message read. |
| But the backlash continued as retailers in China retreated from the brand. | But the backlash continued as retailers in China retreated from the brand. |
| E-commerce group Secoo Holding said it had pulled Dolce & Gabbana products, while Chinese e-commerce platform Kaola also said it had removed the brand from its site, according to reports. | |
| Alina Ma, associate director of research at market insights firm Mintel, said the Dolce & Gabbana ad left Chinese consumers confused and appeared to show the company did not understand them. | |
| "They want a brand that knows them, that makes them feel that they are important," Ms Ma said. | "They want a brand that knows them, that makes them feel that they are important," Ms Ma said. |
| "If you are a brand... in China and competing with local and other international brands, if you show you don't know China, you are not going to appeal to them," she said. | "If you are a brand... in China and competing with local and other international brands, if you show you don't know China, you are not going to appeal to them," she said. |
| While the controversy could hurt their business, the long-term impact will depend on how they deal with the fallout. | While the controversy could hurt their business, the long-term impact will depend on how they deal with the fallout. |
| "If they can show they sincerely want to know the Chinese consumer, want to know the Chinese market, make Chinese consumer feel good… their business may turn around," Ms Ma said. | "If they can show they sincerely want to know the Chinese consumer, want to know the Chinese market, make Chinese consumer feel good… their business may turn around," Ms Ma said. |
| It's not the first time Dolce & Gabbana has drawn controversy. | It's not the first time Dolce & Gabbana has drawn controversy. |
| Last April the brand posted a campaign on Weibo that showed impoverished people in run-down areas of Beijing pictured with D&G models ahead of a catwalk show in the city. | Last April the brand posted a campaign on Weibo that showed impoverished people in run-down areas of Beijing pictured with D&G models ahead of a catwalk show in the city. |
| The pictures were criticised for stereotyping Chinese history by showing old parts of the city, rather than more modern depictions of Beijing. | The pictures were criticised for stereotyping Chinese history by showing old parts of the city, rather than more modern depictions of Beijing. |
| D&G also caused controversy in 2016 when it called an item of footwear in its spring/summer collection a "slave sandal". | D&G also caused controversy in 2016 when it called an item of footwear in its spring/summer collection a "slave sandal". |