Urban Outfitters Criticised for Selling ‘Gay Holocaust’ Tapestry

A Jewish group has criticised the retailer Urban Outfitters after they put a tapestry on sale that looks like the uniform gay men were forced to wear during the holocaust. The design features grey stripes and and a pink triangle, which was the symbol worn by gay inmates.

Although the tapestry is not on sale online it did appear in the Colorado branch, leading to criticism from holocaust survivors. Around 100,000 gay men died under Hitler’s regime, many of whom were said to have been treated worse than Jewish prisoners.

The Anti-Defamation League is demanding the item be withdrawn. ADL National Director and Holocaust survivor Abraham H Foxman told Pink News: “Whether intentional or not, this gray and white stripped pattern and pink triangle combination is deeply offensive and should not be mainstreamed into popular culture.

“We urge Urban Outfitters to immediately remove the product eerily reminiscent of clothing forced upon the victims of the Holocaust from their stores and online.”

This is not the first time Urban Outfitters have offended holocaust survivors. In April 2012 they sold a t-shirt with the yellow Star of David. They later withdrew it claiming it was never intended for sale.

Another retailer, Zara, got into trouble last year when their children’s sheriff shirt was claimed to look like a concentration camp uniform. It had blue stripes and a yellow fabric star, with the word sheriff written on it. The company removed the item from sale and apologised.