Italian clothing brand giant Gucci used their most recent collection to make a statement about abortion – one that goes far beyond simply being pro-choice. This week, the brand launched its 2020 collection on runways in Rome, and while the fashions were labeled “Resort”, they were anything but.
Designer Allessandro Michele focused his resort collection on abortion, instead of the usual spring, cheerful and colorful designs most brands put forth for this time of year. The designer went far beyond pro-choice – the designs actually celebrate the abortion process and movement. One of the most blatant pro-abortion designs is a spring jacket featuring the statement “My body, my choice”. This slogan was part of the 70’s feminist movement.
“This piece echoes the Creative Director’s continuing vision of freedom, equality and self-expression,” the designer said.
The jacket wasn’t the only item of clothing to celebrate abortion and anatomy. A gold metallic dress features a uterus embroidered in glittering red thread, and other embellishments were included. The uterus is designed to sit on the lower abdomen and clashes with the rest of the dress, standing out against the pale gold background. The Instagram description reads:
“A uterus is embroidered on a pleated long sleeve gown designed by @alessandro_michele, moments before the #GucciCruise20 fashion show at @museiincomuneroma in Rome. Since founding @chimeforchange in 2013—the global campaign that represents and advocates for gender equality—@gucci has a longstanding commitment to women and girls by funding projects around the world to support sexual and reproductive rights, maternal health, and the freedom of individual choice.”
Another model showcased a shirt with a date – the day that abortion was legalized in Italy. The designer says he chose to show off this date because it reflected the nation’s “protection of motherhood and the voluntary interruption of pregnancy.”
The reaction to the 2020 resort collection from Gucci has been mixed. Fashion industry leaders have heaped praise on the uterine themed clothing. This has also given those in the industry a chance to decry the protections for the unborn that are available in the United States – the Gucci collection has been lauded for its pro-abortion stance by most in the industry.
“Michele’s Gucci speaks to a large, diverse audience, but this collection will resonate loudest with those who understand just how much is at stake in the fight for women’s reproductive rights,” Vogue magazine editors wrote. “His sensitivity to the issue is bound to influence designers and brands, just as his eclectic magpie aesthetic and embrace of individual style has reverberated down through the seasons since his appointment at Gucci.”
The mainstream media was also swift to pile praise on the “resort” collection. Huffington Post applauded the collection as a move in the right direction. They had recently criticized the brand for including a turban in a recent show, calling it “cultural appropriation”. Gucci is now back in the liberal media’s good graces with its latest, uterine emblazoned vacation wear.
~ Liberty Planet
