As if the backlash that ASOS received for their irresponsible decision to sell a shirt with the word “slave” on it wasn’t enough of an example of what’s not okay to put on the fashion market, Dolce & Gabbana managed to set us back once again with the release of a new pair of shoes that they’ve named “slave sandals.”
The sandals, trimmed with pom-poms and leather, are a part of the Italian fashion giant’s Spring 2016 collection and they’re available for pre-order at a whopping cost of $2,395. According to Footwear News, D&G created this season’s collection while keeping their Italian heritage in mind.
“The collection was inspired by their Italian heritage through the eyes of tourists and jet-set locations like Rome, Venice and Capri,” reads an article on their site. “Apparel throughout the collection was embellished with sayings such as ‘Italia is Love.'”
The site also claims that “slave sandal” is a term used to describe the silhouette and make of the shoe, but the term is now dated and has been replaced by “gladiator sandals.”
Naturally, this isn’t the first time the fashion house has been at the center of racial controversy. In 2012, the designers sent a model down the runway wearing earrings featuring Blackamoors, aka the stereotypical image of a black African.
Though the shoes are listed as slave sandals on the Dolce & Gabbana website, other retailers have chosen to be a little more respecful with their wording. Saks Fifth Avenue has the shoe listed as “Pom-Pom Leather Lace-Up Sandals” while Moda Operandi calls the style “Pom Pom Wrap Around Sandal.”