Giorgio Armani criticised for accusing fashion industry of ‘raping’ women

Giorgio Armani has been criticised for remarks in which he accused the fashion industry of “raping” women.

Giorgio Armani made the remarks at an event during Milan Fashion Week

The Italian designer repeatedly used the term “rape” to describe how women in the fashion industry are treated when he spoke at an event during Milan Fashion Week.

“Women keep getting raped by designers, by us.

“If a lady walks on the street and sees an ad with a woman with her boobs and a**e in plain sight and she wants to be like that too, that’s a way of raping her.

“You can rape a woman in many ways, either by throwing her in the basement or by suggesting that she dresses in a certain way.”

The 85-year-old’s comments drew criticism from some people in the fashion industry who questioned whether Armani’s use of the term “rape” was appropriate.

Booth Moore, an executive editor at fashion trade journal Women’s Wear Daily, wrote on Twitter: “The exploitation of women in fashion imagery is not a new phenomenon, far from it. And I do think Armani has tried always to be respectful of women in his work.

“But the word ‘rape’ is very charged, in any language.”

Armani founded his label in 1975 and has built it into a global brand.

His controversial remarks were made at an event on the sidelines of a show for his Emporio Armani line at Milan Fashion Week.

He said of his latest show “there are short skirts, long skirts, ample and tight trousers”.

“I have given maximum freedom to women who can use all possibilities if they are sensible,” Armani said.

“I’m sick of hearing the word ‘trend’. We need to try to work for today’s woman. There shouldn’t be trends.”

The designer has used recycled fabrics and materials in his autumn/winter 2020 Emporio Armani show, which he will present at Milan Fashion Week on Sunday. –skynews.com