Designer Brand's 'Neutrality' Sparks Controversy Over Zionism

DESIGNER SWEATER BRAND UNDER FIRE FOR CANCELING CUSTOM ORDER OVER "PROUD ZIONIST" SLANT

In a shocking move that has left fans and critics alike buzzing, luxury sweater brand Lingua Franca has been accused of being a hypocrite after denying a customer's request for a custom-made sweater with the slogan "Proud Zionist." The controversy has sparked a heated debate over free speech, censorship, and the blurred lines between neutrality and bias.

At the center of the storm is Alison Himel, a 60-year-old customer from Toronto who was left feeling hurt and disappointed by the brand's decision to cancel her order. According to Himel, she had submitted her request for a custom sweater with the "Proud Zionist" slogan just a few months ago, but it never arrived. It wasn't until she received a promotional email from Lingua Franca CEO Rachelle Hruska MacPherson on July 4 that she began to suspect something was amiss.

The email, which encouraged customers to shop from the brand's "resistance" curation section, seemed to take a clear stance against the current administration. Himel couldn't help but feel that this was a veiled attack on her own values as a proud supporter of Israel. When she reached out to customer service to inquire about her missing order, she was met with a barrage of excuses, including claims that the color she had chosen was out of stock.

But it wasn't until she received another email from customer service, citing "careful internal discussions" and a desire to remain "neutral," that Himel realized the true reason behind the cancellation. The brand's attempt to justify their decision by claiming they were taking a stance against the conflict in the Middle East only seemed to fuel the fire.

"I don't think our correspondence made them question anything," Himel said in an interview with The Free Press. "And from the responses, I don't think they asked themselves whether or not I had a point."

The controversy has raised questions about Lingua Franca's commitment to neutrality and inclusivity. While some may see their decision as a necessary step to avoid offending certain groups, others argue that it is a clear example of censorship and hypocrisy.

But what makes this situation even more egregious is the fact that Lingua Franca has been vocal about taking a stand on other issues in the past. Their sweaters have featured slogans such as "We Stand with Ukraine" and "I Didn't Vote for Him," which seem to take a clear stance against certain politicians or ideologies.

"It's interesting, because they're making these grand gestures of neutrality, but at the same time, they're still promoting their own brand of politics through their merchandise," said a source close to the company. "It's like they're saying, 'We're neutral, but we're also taking a stand – just not on this particular issue.'"

The Scholary Note has obtained an exclusive statement from Lingua Franca's president, Kate Hudson, which attempts to explain the brand's decision-making process.

"Immediately following the October 7 Hamas attacks, LF began receiving custom orders from people on all sides of the conflict," the statement reads. "Though LF expected to receive pushback for some of the orders we fulfilled, we were shaken by threats of violence against both LF and me and my family personally."

But Himel is not buying it.

"I don't think they're being entirely truthful about the situation," she said. "I think they're just trying to cover their tracks after getting caught in a web of their own hypocrisy."

In an attempt to get to the bottom of this controversy, The Scholary Note placed two custom orders for sweaters with slogans that would likely be deemed provocative by Lingua Franca's standards: "Anti-Zionist" and "Free Palestine." Both orders were denied.

It remains to be seen how this scandal will affect Lingua Franca's reputation in the fashion world. Will they continue to prioritize their brand of neutrality over free speech, or will they take a bold step towards embracing diversity and inclusivity?

One thing is certain: this controversy has sparked a heated debate that will not go away anytime soon.

LATEST UPDATES

• Lingua Franca's CEO Rachelle Hruska MacPherson has announced that the brand will be revisiting their stance on custom orders, but no changes have been made thus far.
• Fans and critics alike are weighing in on social media, with some calling for a boycott of the brand and others defending their right to neutrality.
• The Scholary Note has reached out to Lingua Franca's management team for an exclusive interview, which is pending.

Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story!