I LOVE LOVE LOVE the new Dolce and Gabbana denim patchwork tote. I had a Coach bag about 12 years ago that was denim patchwork. It was one of my favorites. I love the look but I'm not happy with D&G and their reputation. I cant find any other bag like that, that I like except Chanel and well....I dont have that kind of cash flow. The celebrities are all sporting D&G. Celebrities and models of all races, colors and genders so why cant I??? Anyone? Thoughts on this topic??
I'm in love with a new Dolce and Gabbana denim tote bag but I'm struggling with not wanting to support them because they're batsh$t crazy.
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I believe @papertiger mentioned something about this type of issue.
Bottom line, all brands have an ugly side to them.
If you do enough research, they all have a history with something they are not proud of.
Chanel is famous for her history of supporting Nazi's but LV supported the puppet French government controlled by the Nazi's and Balenciaga ignored the events of WWII as if they never existed. D&G had the racist ad scandal, Alexander Wang has sexual assault allegations, and John Galliano (once a creative director for Dior) made anti-semitic slurs. The Gucci family has a bloody history.
The list goes on. Some things are "forgiven" but more often than not, forgotten in time.
At the end of the day, it's your money and your life. You decide what works best for your in your level of comfort.
I feel most level-headed individuals will not look at someone carrying a D&G item now and jump to the conclusion that that person supports racism. Quite judgmental and rude tbh.
Just my thoughts though. Hope that helps!
Bottom line, all brands have an ugly side to them.
If you do enough research, they all have a history with something they are not proud of.
Chanel is famous for her history of supporting Nazi's but LV supported the puppet French government controlled by the Nazi's and Balenciaga ignored the events of WWII as if they never existed. D&G had the racist ad scandal, Alexander Wang has sexual assault allegations, and John Galliano (once a creative director for Dior) made anti-semitic slurs. The Gucci family has a bloody history.
The list goes on. Some things are "forgiven" but more often than not, forgotten in time.
At the end of the day, it's your money and your life. You decide what works best for your in your level of comfort.
I feel most level-headed individuals will not look at someone carrying a D&G item now and jump to the conclusion that that person supports racism. Quite judgmental and rude tbh.
Just my thoughts though. Hope that helps!
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Wow , that actually is helpful. You're 100% right. They all have an ugly side because so many of these designer houses are from a time when racism and bigotry was the norm. I just feel that D&G have been under fire very recently (within the past 5 years) as opposed to the other houses that were participating in this behavior 75 years ago. Yes, I heard that about Chanel and I'm Jewish so...I dont buy Chanel because I cant spend $5000 on one bag not because Coco slept with a Nazi, lol. And another thing, I find it quite odd that two openely gay men in a relationship for 23 years would be homophobic, anti gay marriage etc.. but "to each his own" Thank you for the response. I think I may have to make that purchase just because I love it, for no other reason
My rule of thumb is that I will not support / buy anything if the offense happened in contemporary times (judged arbitrarily by me to be the last 30 years ish) or if there is financial support of any kind still flowing to objectionable parties on the back to end.
So, I wouldn’t buy anything from A. Wang nor would I buy a fake bag because that supports criminals.
Where my morality clashes hard with my consumerism is in my willingness to buy diamonds which is, candidly, morally indefensible. And, I likely buy products from ugly people even in simple places like the grocery store. Monsanto is demonic. But, who else supplies corn, etc. etc. in my region?
So, my point is - it’s important to hold people accountable. It’s also almost impossible to buy solely from those you fully respect.
So, I wouldn’t buy anything from A. Wang nor would I buy a fake bag because that supports criminals.
Where my morality clashes hard with my consumerism is in my willingness to buy diamonds which is, candidly, morally indefensible. And, I likely buy products from ugly people even in simple places like the grocery store. Monsanto is demonic. But, who else supplies corn, etc. etc. in my region?
So, my point is - it’s important to hold people accountable. It’s also almost impossible to buy solely from those you fully respect.
Well, that definitely gives me something to think about. I drive a German car and I'm a Jew. With that being said I think I'll buy the D&G bag. It's just too gorgeous to pass up. Of course I'll probably be stuck with it for life since the resale value will be in the toilet, but I swore that I wouldn't buy bags solely based on if I can sell them down the roadMy rule of thumb is that I will not support / buy anything if the offense happened in contemporary times (judged arbitrarily by me to be the last 30 years ish) or if there is financial support of any kind still flowing to objectionable parties on the back to end.
So, I wouldn’t buy anything from A. Wang nor would I buy a fake bag because that supports criminals.
Where my morality clashes hard with my consumerism is in my willingness to buy diamonds which is, candidly, morally indefensible. And, I likely buy products from ugly people even in simple places like the grocery store. Monsanto is demonic. But, who else supplies corn, etc. etc. in my region?
So, my point is - it’s important to hold people accountable. It’s also almost impossible to buy solely from those you fully respect.
Thanks for your inputIt's a really hard conundrum for me too...
The way I see it, as @lill_canele said, all brands have their ugly sides...
I try to remind myself whenever I buy from a brand I don't feel 100% confident about ethically that:
1) The vast majority of the company are people who likely don't support whatever unethical things the company has done / believed - and their wages can only be paid, if people are buying the items (of course that supports the owners also);
2) There are SO MANY arenas I can choose to exercise my activism in, so I 'pick my battles' (e.g. LV's support of the French Nazi occupation is not something that I think is relevant to the brand now, but I wouldn't buy Salvatore Ferragamo right now as they're still selling in Russia, albeit through a distributor).
The way I see it, as @lill_canele said, all brands have their ugly sides...
I try to remind myself whenever I buy from a brand I don't feel 100% confident about ethically that:
1) The vast majority of the company are people who likely don't support whatever unethical things the company has done / believed - and their wages can only be paid, if people are buying the items (of course that supports the owners also);
2) There are SO MANY arenas I can choose to exercise my activism in, so I 'pick my battles' (e.g. LV's support of the French Nazi occupation is not something that I think is relevant to the brand now, but I wouldn't buy Salvatore Ferragamo right now as they're still selling in Russia, albeit through a distributor).
Yup, it can go on and on if we start digging. D&G are still controversial to date so I'm a bit hesitant. But, you are right that there are hundreds of employees that work for these luxury houses and do not support the same ideologies and they need to get paid!! Lol. Then there is China. Pretty much everything is made there. So hard to get around that. So honestly if anyone can condemn me for buying a D&G bag I guess I can ask them how many Lambskin and Calfskin bags they own and if they know just how they get that skin....we are all guilty
Thanks for your input!This thread title had me spitting out my morning coffee. LOL HYSTERICAL! Came for the title, stayed for the excellent posts. Love this!
Lol, so happy I can spread some laughter around. Why not, with what's happening in this world... So what do you think? Keep the bag or return it??
Well, you can spend your money how you like. I understand wanting to support your decision with the cash you spend. However, the cost of a bag is totally insignificant to the main income of this brand. Not even a ripple in a pond *shrug*
My vote is keep the bag. I used to feel strongly against Chanel when I did research but my boyfriend, who is Jewish, said to me a statement that rings true. It was a world war and EVERYBODY had some entanglement in it. If you do away with everyone who has had shade in their past, your going to wind up with nothing. I like to think these houses learned from their mistakes.
Don't worry about judgement. I am 48 now, and if I was judged by someone because of a handbag, I would be sure they would be judging me on other things as well. With a judgemental person, it is never "just one thing". Bless that person and wish them well, so much so, they get out of your path. You don't need negativity.
I'm in the crowd that just wants to say, awesome thread title.
I struggled with this too because D&G clothing fits me really well when not much else does. But I had to dump them as a brand. I won't touch their stuff. So I get it.
I agree with what pretty much everyone has said - we can't be perfect, it's relatively insignificant to them (not like you're investing deeply into the company, or like they'd *know* that Cocobeans refused to buy from them because of their brand of crazy), and you should do what makes you happy.
I would only ask, without any judgment at all, if you can enjoy the bag 100%. If so, yes, enjoy it forever! If it will bug you a bit every time you use it, I'd return and wait for a bag you can love without question.
I struggled with this too because D&G clothing fits me really well when not much else does. But I had to dump them as a brand. I won't touch their stuff. So I get it.
I agree with what pretty much everyone has said - we can't be perfect, it's relatively insignificant to them (not like you're investing deeply into the company, or like they'd *know* that Cocobeans refused to buy from them because of their brand of crazy), and you should do what makes you happy.
I would only ask, without any judgment at all, if you can enjoy the bag 100%. If so, yes, enjoy it forever! If it will bug you a bit every time you use it, I'd return and wait for a bag you can love without question.
Maybe pre-loved? So you can have the bag you like but you're not supporting their sales directly?