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Why Dolce & Gabbana's 'racist' ad controversy could mean disaster for the brand

Our fashion columnist Mosha Lundström Halbert unpacks the controversy surrounding Dolce & Gabbana and discusses the long term impact it may have on the brand.
CBC Radio ·
Founders of Dolce&Gabbana Domenico Dolce, left, and Stefano Gabbana apologize in a video on Chinese social media, saying "sorry" in Mandarin seen on a computer screen in Beijing, China, Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. The Italian fashion house has been in hot water for controversial video ads and insulting remarks on China made by Instagram accounts of its co-founder. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) (Ng Han Guan/Associated Press)

Last week in Shanghai, Dolce & Gabbana was set to put on its biggest runway show ever until a controversy derailed the production. The crisis resulted from a misguided ad campaign that critics have called disrespectful and racist, and a thread of shocking messages sent from Stefano Gabbana's personal Instagram account​. The Italian designer has denied writing the messages.

This isn't the first time a figure from the fashion world has been caught making insensitive comments, but the public's reaction in this case may say something about the way the world is changing. Fashion director, Vogue.com contributor and q's fashion columnist Mosha Lundström Halbert unpacks the story and discusses what kind of long term impact the controversy may have on the brand. 

— Produced by Cora Nijhawan

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