Hollow Fantasy Cleo Robins
Is it possible for a brand to re-work their image if their entire business model is founded on patriarchal values? There are a few notable brands that people love to hate. Some are divisive due to their proprietors – like Elon Musk’s innovative and eccentric company, Tesla. Many people despise Amazon, too, for the disparity between its minimum wage and the wealth of its founder, Jeff Bezos. But lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret is a special, glaring case. Renowned for its annual lacy runway extravaganza, Victoria’s Secret shows and capsules were, until recently, size-exclusive and predominantly modelled by white women. The company’s lack of inclusion
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has rubbed people the wrong way for several years and, recently, public distaste has taken a toll on the brand’s fortunes. In 2019, the annual Victoria’s Secret fashion show was called off amid growing controversy over its lack of diversity, and last year, due to the havoc-wreaking pandemic, the company was forced to close 250 of its stores worldwide. Perhaps it was this misfortune, coupled with the realisation that trying to sell a fantasy perhaps isn’t all that realistic, that influenced Victoria’s Secret to announce that it would be completely overhauling its image. Victoria’s Secret revealed last month on Instagram that it had formed a new “VS Collective” of women
Next time you wanna complain about UWA, remember the moat!
