Is Phillip Lim's Free Tote Offensive?

Mon, 10/27/08 — 03:22:13 PM

>> There's nothing wrong with enticing shoppers with free goodies in this economy, and Phillip Lim is known for his ethnically diverse runways, so this one stumps me a little.

During the month of December, shoppers at Lim's stores will be offered the choice of two denim totes with any purchase — one embroidered with Lim's initials, and the other below.  The only problem is, the first image that popped into my head upon seeing the below tote was not a refreshing one — it reminds me of blackface.  I'm sure that wasn't the intention, but still — not the image you want your shoppers to be transmitting freely around, and especially not when it is traceable back to your store.
*image: source, source

posted by
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 3:51pm

How did nobody pick up on this at PL?!


posted by
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 3:54pm

I find them offensive.
Tsk Tsk on you Philip Lim.


posted by
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 4:21pm

seriously? come on it's a happy face on a black tote... lets not read too far into this... it's an ugly happy face tote bag... what you should be worried about is the people who actually think this is fashionable and pay way too much money for it.


posted by
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 10:40am

if you don't like it then don't get it
and it does not look similar
i wouldn't of even noticed it if you haven't mentioned it


posted by
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 12:15pm

You


posted by
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 12:16pm

You know, at first it didnt seem like anything, just kind of silly. But then it came to me that it was a black face face. Its not that its looking too much into it, its that you didnt look enough. Its offensive and pointless.


posted by
Thu, 10/30/2008 - 9:23am

Very offensive!


posted by
Sat, 11/01/2008 - 5:15am

I don't think it's at all offensive. Like SheRocS said, it's just a happy face on a black tote. I really don't see the recemblance either.


posted by
Fri, 12/12/2008 - 12:32pm

this is the worst thing i have ever seen aside from the "obama is my slave" horror that some new york hipster trash tried to promote for his career. guess what? his career was ruined.

to think that a tarbaby and a blackface minstrel is appropriate in this day and age is appalling.

this is OBVIOUSLY based on blackface.

Philip Lim is awful. I refuse to buy any of his products. i hope his career withers and dies, like his taste and sense obviously have.


posted by
Fri, 12/12/2008 - 1:00pm

In France, right up to the 80s, there used to be a chocolate drink and on the packaging was a similar minstrel face a la Al Jolson urging people to taste 'exotica'. It took decades but eventually the packaging was banned as the majority of people found it offensive.It may seem harmless to some people but its also a slap in the face to others.
This is neither the time nor the place to preach but people please listen to Billy Holiday singing 'Strange Fruit'.


posted by areyouserious520
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 11:58am

if looking at a picture of a smiley face with red lips (last time i checked thats usually what color they are) is offensive to you and all you can read from it is "black face" then you obviously have some sort of deep rooted racist issues. im black. i didnt find it offensive. i just saw a sexy version of the standard smiley face. i'm going to keep using this bag because i like it. and you're a dumb ass. get over yourself.


posted by
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 12:00pm

Not at all...


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fashionologie is the musings of a twenty-something American girl who wishes she could have a Freaky Friday incident and switch bodies with Phoebe Philo.

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