Jesse Jackson Now Protesting Ugly Shoes

[BvBPL]

So Adidas teamed up with some guy named Jeremy Scott to create some sort of boutique tennis shoe. Jesse Jackson caught wind of this and put a stop to this horrid injustice against fashion. Thanks to Jackson, we wouldn't need to suffer teeny-boppers wearing these hideous things:

I think it should be obvious to everyone that these shoes are patently offensive. I mean, come on, orange and purple? Frilly little shackles? Wearing these shoes is an incitement to violence and an open invitation to get your lunch money stolen by 11 year old school yard extortionists.

Jackson, however, cited not reasonable fashion concerns during his campaign against the shoes, but instead said that the shackles on the shoes were reminiscent of the shackles slaves were forced to wear. Jackson accused Adidas of "commercializing" slavery with these shoes.

What do you think? Are these shoes a horribly offensive crime against humanity, or a horribly offensive race crime?

For what it's worth, the designer says the shackles and color scheme were inspired by the toy "My Pet Monster," a fact that should be obvious to anyone who has ever seen that toy. Still not a color scheme any human being should be allowed to wear in public.

Linky-poo.

 

[Mise]

I don't see it as racist, but a lot of people did, and that's their right. It's Adidas's right to weigh the public relations impact against the cost and revenues and come up with their own decision on whether to push these shoes to market. (They decided to pull the shoes, btw.)

That being said, I don't see why they have to make shoes with shackles on them. I don't think there was any racist intent from Adidas, but given that some people view it as offensive, I don't see why they can't just make shoes without shackles on them. Is there some reason why making shoes with shackles on them is important? Turns out there isn't -- Adidas have already pulled them, confirming my suspicion that there are, in fact, plenty of ways of making shoes that don't involve purported symbols of historic slavery.

In other words, I don't see what the fuss is over the shoes, and I don't see what the fuss is over the fuss over the shoes. They're just shoes - can't you just make them without the shackles? It would be great if I never had to hear or read about it again. My opinion is that Adidas should just can the shoes and come up with a different way of making them that doesn't involve shackles. And, since this is exactly what Adidas have done, there is nothing else to say and I wish the internet would just STFU about it.

 

[Synobun]

You heard it here first folks, any representation of an object that has been used in a terrible period of history means you are mocking the situation and want to make a cheap buck off whatever happened back then.

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

The sole reason they released them was to get tongues wagging

 

[BvBPL]

Then they are real heels, Rugby.

 

[Kozmos]

Did someone make a pimp my shoes show while I was sleeping in Balkanistan?

 

[Mr. Dictator]

I'm gonna throw myself into the "whatever, but I can see where the offence comes from."

However, how the hell did these make it past the planning stage? Its almost something I could see an anti-consumerist group making as a statement or something.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

"Are you always worried about losing your shoes when you're wearing them? Worry no more!"

 

[MobBoss]

I thought it was an overt attempt to woo the '50 shades of Grey' crowd.

 

[Formaldehyde]

What could possibly be wrong with bringing out an entire S&M-oriented clothing line for children which is so reminiscent of chain gangs?

Regarding the racial overtones, I think Maura Judkis hit the nail on the head:

Slaves to fashion: Jeremy Scott, Adidas and fashion’s race problem

Even though Scott has denied any connection to slavery, the outcry is something that Adidas and the designer should have forecasted — particularly because this is just the latest in a series of events that demonstrate a history of racial insensitivity. It took a while for black models to grace runways and covers — and even now, they have to work twice as hardto command the kind of work and salaries that white models do, according to fashion booker Annie Wilshaw in the Guardian. Fashion designers, writers and editors can come across as tone-deaf to racial issues, getting caught up in PR crises akin to the one that Adidas is experiencing right now — like a French Elle editor who wrote that African-Americans were not stylish until the Obamas came to the White House, and even then, because the couple embraces “white codes.” Or the Dutch fashion magazine that used the n-word in a profile of Rihanna. Or the John Galliano racism trial, after the designer made racist and anti-Semitic remarks in a Parisian restaurant last year. Or the time that Vogue Italia highlighted “slave” hoop earrings as the latest trend. Or that periodic use of blackface as a makeup and styling trick, or the use of people of other cultures and races as mere props in a photo shoot.

These missteps may be the result of the industry’s continual quest to push boundaries and do something new with each change of the fashion season — and it certainly doesn’t help that the industry lacks diversity (Less than 20% of all models in February’s Fashion Week weren’t white — and Jezebel said that it was the most diverse fashion week in ages). But because PR crises seem to cycle as frequently as the fashion seasons change, shouldn’t designers and editors have developed a better radar for racial sensitivity by now?

 

[Leonel]

It's symbolic for the layman's slavery to designer brands and an end to the independent cobbler

 

[JollyRoger]

Even without the racist elements that may be afoot, I could see where they could cobble together a coalition of straight-laced people to get Adidas to toe the line on good taste.

 

[attackfighter]

I don't know whether these people are insane or stupid. Also is Jesse Jackson the fat one by any chance? If so I might have seen him on a documentary by Louis Theroux (a man I don't respect).

 

[holy king]

this is my first association with foot chains...

 

[Farm Boy]

People who get off on being offended will forever be finding something to be offended by.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

"Racial sensitivity"....
I actually love the color design! Grey, violet, orange.. Gotta remember that when I design my new Nike shoe. But well, I am also into flashy shoes. Those chains.. naww, too impractical.

But this racial sensitivity thing....It makes me want to puke. What bullocks. Those people act like they just were allowed to take off their chains... Racism isn't tackled by looking for racism where there obviously ain't racism. That is just people jerking of to the idea of being oppressed.
"Oh yeah... I - am - so - OFFENDED Grahhhh...."

 

[ParkCungHee]

What could possibly be wrong with bringing out an entire S&M-oriented clothing line for children

You know, if that was actually the intent, I'd defend these shoes.

 

[Core Imposter]

This is just another case of liberals interfering in the free market.

They just want to rule you.

So many agree with them and fall in line that maybe they have a point.

 

[Quackers]

In the past a lucky black person would have gotten them for free! Having to pay for them now is the real crime here.

 

[Dreadnought]

Evil is afoot here.