Chanel Fashions with Koran Phrases
- Artist/Author/Producer: Karl Lagerfeld
- Confronting Bodies: Muslim group
- Dates of action: January 1994
- Location: Paris, Berlin, Indonesia
- Description of the Art Work
- Lagerfeld-designed collection of women's clothing for Chanel on which
Arabic words were embroidered in gray pearls. Among the passages on the
dress is the phrase, "They are the ones who found guidance," which
appears repeatedly in the Koran. Lagerfeld said he found the phrase in a
book on India's Taj Mahal palace and was told it was a love poem in
memory of a maharani.
- Description of incident
- A Muslim group in Jakarta, Indonesia, made a formal protest to officials
in Lagerfeld's home country of Germany. Media reported threats to
international model Claudia Schiffer, who wore clothing from the
collection in Paris, and Lagerfeld, who canceled a trip to Berlin because
of the controversy.
- Results of incident
- Chanel apologized to the Muslim community and said it had destroyed all
dresses bearing the offending design as well as all photographs and
negatives of the clothing collection.
Source: Reuters; Chicago Sun-Times 1/21/94