Givenchy Criticized for Using Noose-Shaped Necklaces on Runway Models

Fashion designer Givenchy is facing backlash after having models walk down the runway wearing noose-shaped necklaces.

Givenchy debuted its Spring 2022 collection during Paris Fashion Week. According to Vogue, the collection is a part of designer Matthew M. Williams’ first haute couture collection in his new role as creative director of the brand.

The high-fashion French brand was called out for using the the accessory, which is reminiscent of rope tied into the shape of a noose.

Diet Prada, an Instagram page that calls out the many wrongdoings in the fashion industry, wrote in a post that was liked by more than 75,000 people.

“You’d think the industry would’ve learned not to put things that resemble nooses around a model’s neck after the whole @Burberry noose hoodie debacle in 2019.”

“This @givenchyofficial necklace that just came down the runway steers dangerously close to that same territory,” the caption continued. “Really makes you wonder how no one noticed, but alas… history repeats itself.”

Diet Prada also spoke to Insider. “There’s a lot of ways you can interpret nautical or rope motifs in fashion and accessories, but putting rope around a neck, let alone an actual noose tie, is too uncanny,” the representative said. “There’s no mistaking the Givenchy necklace for a noose…seeing it immediately gave us flashbacks to that Burberry incident.”

The incident is one of many instances of fashion lines incorporating “blatantly offensive” clothes and accessories and passing it off as fashion.

Burberry sparked controversy over a sweatshirt at London Fashion Week with hoodie drawstrings that ended in a noose knot hanging around the model’s neck.

Following that backlash, Burberry’s chief creative officer issued an apology, saying, “while the design was inspired by a nautical theme, I realize that it was insensitive.”

Givenchy has not yet addressed the criticism of the necklace.