Following accusations of racism in its promotions of the event, Italian fashion house Dolce and Gabbana reportedly cancelled a fashion show in Shanghai.
A series of three videos posted on the fashion house’s Twitter and Instagram accounts over the weekend showed a Chinese woman being taught how to use chopsticks, however they caused outrage on social media with many accusing the fashion label of racism and cultural insensitivity. The films were intended to promote "The Great Show," a catwalk event which was to be held at Shanghai's Expo Center on Wednesday night.
But the show was cancelled, with guests being informed it will no longer go ahead. China Daily reported that celebrities including Zhang Ziyi, Li Binging and Wang Junkai had withdrawn their attendance from the show before it was pulled.
It isn’t the first time the Italian fashion house has attracted controversy. In 2015, the designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana said: "We oppose gay adoptions. The only family is the traditional one," attracting protests outside their London store.
The company has outlets in 25 Chinese cities, according to store listings on its website, and Chinese luxury consumers account for nearly £56 billion in annual spending, representing almost a third of the global luxury market, according to a 2017 McKinsey report.
