Bitty Monkey, thank you for starting the thread. I found this article and others interesting about the Wertheimer family’s relationship with Chanel.
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/anti...d-chanel-of-its-antisemitic-nazi-roots-581267. Am not sure I agree with the title, but it’s complex and fascinating. I was in the other thread (The Atlantic, style and racism) and being both filipino and jewish, I believe I get tangled up re racism and prejudice and whether a separate thread was warranted In the sense thta I enjoyed a wide variety of responses. I have mixed feelings about the connections between racism and antisemitism, and I have a lot to learn.
I also found that if you google fashion and antisemitism, you find many fashion companies have serious issues ranging from high end Galliano (racist and antisemitic rants) (Dior, Galliano, and then Maison Margiela); and, icons like Chanel to a mass production company like Zara. Years ago, Zara faced a 40 million usd anti semitism and anti-gay discrimination suit and had a history of clothing with yellow stars and, as late as 2007, even a bag with a swastika.
(I didn’t know some of this until I googled it. will I buy Galliano and Zara going forward. Probably not.
But, I used to buy chanel RTW and leather goods regularly, and I’m researching a possible verdura purchase which is inextricably linked to chanel. DH just purchased a Lange zeitwork watch, a German company (I don’t think it has anti Semitic issues) . But, i am probably guilty of drawing no bright line bc I rely on the lazy rationale, these issues are everywhere. . . Do I stop admiring Picasso bc he really sounds like he was a womanizer and a chauvinist and didnt seem to support Dora Maar enough in her own artistic endeavors. . . (Yes, I know that’s a separate, not systemic issue).
I think I’ve subconsciously tried to avoid the issue entirely when it comes to quality purchases and just try to buy stuff that won’t contribute too much waste or landfill. I’m more concerned about plastics in clothing than about anti-semitism. For most of my adult life as a consumer (three decades), I’ve bought and worn clothing that lasts. Before I was old enough to buy on my own dime, I had a host of family members (grandmother, mom, three aunts, godmothers, cousins etc etc) who gladly bought and shared stuff. We essentislly recycledjewelry, watches, bags, shoes, clothes. . . So, I try to buy sustainably and responsibly, and I since I love vintage style, I naturally gravitate towards both conventional retail and vintage/reseller.