- Zara is being accused of cultural appropriation over a $90 skirt.
- People claim that the skirt resembles a lungi, a sarong frequently worn by men in South and Southeast Asia, East Africa, and some Arab countries.
- The skirts have similar designs, but the Lungi's breezy silhouette serves a practical purpose and Zara's seems to be for aesthetics.
Zara is being accused of cultural appropriation over a $90 skirt that some people think looks like a lungi, a sarong frequently worn by men in South and Southeast Asia, East Africa, and some Arab countries.
Here's Zara's $90 "Check Mini Skirt."
Like a traditional lungi, which typically costs less than $5, the $90 Zara version also has a slit in the front and ruffles. While the Zara skirt seemingly has these details for aesthetic purposes, lungis are designed to be cooling in hot weather.
People on Twitter are furious with Zara.
One person said the skirt was insulting. "Zara is selling Lungi and calling it 'Flowing Skirt with Drapped [sic] Detail in Front' = To me having Masala Dosa and calling it 'Pan Griddled Rice Pancake stuffed with Spiced Potatoes' on Instagram," he wrote.
#Zara is selling #Lungi and calling it 'Flowing Skirt with Drapped Detail in Front' = To me having Masala Dosa and calling it 'Pan Griddled Rice Pancake stuffed with Spiced Potatoes' on #Instagram
— majid (@kaapiccino) January 30, 2018
Other people seemed to agree.
Zara is trying to sell uncle's £3 lungi (Asian male skirt) for £70 #shabash👏 #LungiDance💃😂🎶🎬 pic.twitter.com/yEsdXcLeyI
— Qursheed (@strawbaby_whirl) January 30, 2018
Lol @ZARA check yourself before you appropriate clothing from another culture. This brings grandpa-chic to a whole new level 😬 #zaralungihttps://t.co/rE7aFTehmN
— 👹 Sally Lin • 林樾 👹 (@sallyyuelin) January 30, 2018
@ZARA London hipsters beware... if I see you rocking a £70 zara lungi it's getting pulled off... and I know you don't know how to tie that shit back up 😂 #zaralungipic.twitter.com/DBVeFXA3qS
— Keshav (@KeshMK90) February 1, 2018
Hallo Zara! Stop trying to sell me a Lungi for 60 euros. #okthnkxbye#idonteven#facepalmkidukaanpic.twitter.com/NE5jPAjDTc
— Kaurwakee (@NomadWanderer) January 31, 2018
At the time this post was published, the lungi was still for sale on Zara's website.
Zara isn't the only brand to face backlash online. In January, H&M was under fire for selling a children's sweatshirt that some people considered racist. In December 2017, American Eagle faced backlash for selling metal bracelets that many thought resembled slave shackles.
Zara didn't immediately respond to INSIDER's request for comment.
Sign up here to get INSIDER's favorite stories straight to your inbox.
Join the conversation about this story »
NOW WATCH: Light up the night with the Twinkling Stars Skirt