In case you were wondering why your feeds have been chocker with vlogger street style and FROW-fashwan recently, Milan Fashion Week, which comes to an end today, has been in full swing. But, in a shocking turn of events on Sunday night, a model on the Gucci runway decided to protest the brand's collection, literally as the pieces made their way down the catwalk.
Ayesha Tan-Jones, an artist and model who walked in the show, used the platform to share their opinion that the straitjacket inspired collection showed "bad taste" towards those who have suffered with mental illness.
Ayesha wrote the words: "Mental health is not fashion" in black on the palms of their hands, holding them up to the spectators and photographers as they walked the runway.
A press officer for the label confirmed after the show that the protest was entirely unplanned and had had no brand involvement whatsoever. Later, Gucci's Creative Director, Alessandro Michele, said that the collection had been inspired by thinking "about humanity and uniforms. A uniform is something that blocks and constrains you - that makes you anonymous. That makes you follow the direction of travel." He went on to call the straitjackets, "the highest type of uniform."
But Ayesha took to Instagram to argue their reasoning behind the protest, posting comments alongside a video of the protest; "It is in bad taste for Gucci to use the imagery of strait jackets and outfits alluding to mental patients, while being rolled out on a conveyor belt as if a piece of factory meat.
"Presenting these struggles as props for selling clothes in today’s capitalist climate is vulgar, unimaginative and offensive to the millions of people around the world affected by these issues.
"As an artist and model who has experienced my own struggles with mental health, as well as family members and loved ones who have been affected by depression, anxiety, bipolar and schizophrenia, it is hurtful and insensitive for a major fashion house such as Gucci to use this imager as a concept for a fleeting fashion moment."
A spokesperson for Gucci has said the uniforms and straitjackets "were a statement for the fashion show and will not be sold".
Daniella Scott is Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. As part of her role, Danny covers all things entertainment, from true crime to scandalous drama (if there’s a con involved, she’s probably already binged it) and celebrity interviews, including Nicola Coughlan. Danny’s also across lifestyle, travel, interiors and food and drink, in both digital and print. So when she’s not trawling Instagram for the next best Ikea hack, she’s trying out cocktail recipes or pretending she has a driving license researching the UK’s best road trips.
