This Video Does Not Depict Customers Protesting Zara’s Portrayal of Gaza Victims
The Claim
After Zara made an insulting advertisement about the Gaza War, the American people threw all Zara clothes in front of the company.
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Recently, various social media accounts and pages have been circulating a video that purportedly shows American citizens throwing Zara clothing in front of a corporate store. This act is in protest against the brand's newly unveiled collection, which seems to resemble the bodies of victims of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the claim and found it to be misleading, as the video is not related to American protests against Zara's portrayal of the Israeli war on Gaza and its victims in their latest fashion collection. Rather, it is part of a campaign aimed at shedding light on the environmental and societal impacts of clothing overproduction.
Campaign To Reduce Clothing Waste
Vestiaire Collective, a platform for selling second-hand clothes, has launched a “Think First, Buy Second” campaign aiming to reduce the waste produced by fast fashion production lines. The campaign utilizes artificial intelligence-generated scenes to raise awareness of the risks associated with fast fashion waste.
The store's website posted a video featuring activists discarding clothing in front of stores affiliated with brands that produce and sell clothes, highlighting the negative impact of overproduction. They encouraged the adoption of second-hand clothing and urged consumers to consider their purchases carefully before buying new clothes.
On November 17, the store's Instagram account shared the video, accompanied by a caption explaining the campaign’s objectives. It highlighted the campaign's initiation after observing approximately 92 million tons of textile waste, explaining that the act of discarding clothes at the doors of clothing agencies aimed to underscore the magnitude of waste generated by this industry.
The post announced that the platform would abstain from showcasing clothing from brands like Zara, H&M, GAP, and others due to the excessive quantities produced through their production lines. It also encouraged others to join the campaign.
Boycott of Zara Company
Zara Fashion Agency announced its new winter collection through images taken inside a set designed to resemble a war zone. Activists have linked these images to scenes from the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
As a result, Zara’s name was added to the boycott list, and the hashtag #boycott_zara trended across social media platforms.
After the boycott campaign gained momentum and numerous comments flooded the official agency’s pages, Zara removed the pictures of the winter collection and published a statement stating that the collection were prepared prior to the war in September, but some customers felt insulted by the pictures.
The agency's statement expressed regret for the misunderstanding and emphasized its respect for everyone. However, the boycott campaign continued, with many participants viewing the statement as a response to the ongoing boycott.
Boycott Campaigns Against Companies Supporting Israel
As the aggression on the Gaza Strip began, calls to boycott products linked to brands supporting the occupation intensified. One notable campaign was the boycott against McDonald's after its branch in Israel announced providing meals to soldiers in the Israeli army.
Afterwards, the campaigns extended to boycotting companies that either openly or covertly backed the occupation. The boycott campaigns included prominent brands such as Pepsi, Burger King, Starbucks, and others, and Zara recently joined them.
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