Rodarte MAC - gate!

Okay so, I kept seeing tweets on Twitter about people being disappointed with MAC Cosmetics. Me being a massive, totally biased MAC addict, I had to find out what the issue was.. and I have to say, its quite shocking!

This autumn, MAC cosmetics are due to release a new collection. Exciting as always, huh? Read on..
This new collection is in collaboration with American fashion designers Rodarte. Rodarte is a clothing and accessory range founded by sisters, Kate and Laura Mulleavy.

Kate and Laura Mulleavy   -    Rodarte

And the products, as always, in the classy black trademark MAC casing, look fantastic..

Rodarte for MAC collection

So far, all this sounds and looks great right? Wrong. This collection was, apparantly, inspired by the sisters road trip through the towns of the Texas/Mexico border. Influenced by the 'ethereal nature of the landscape' they went on to design the collection..

Now, let me give a brief background to the towns the girls tripped through and the things they may've seen..

There are such factories in Mexico, particularly in a town called Juarez, that we may describe as 'sweat shops', here they are known as 'maquiladoras'. They make cheap export goods, predominately made by women. Over worked, under paid, very badly treated women. We've all heard of these types of places right? Unfortunately this kind of thing happens all over the world right? But when you dwelve deeper into Juarez and read that this town is notorious for the number of women (aged between 12-22) who are raped or murdered and it seems that violence towards women seems acceptable here and that many women have to seek second jobs, often in the sex industry, to make ends meet. Many women are murdered or missing and nothing seems to be being done. Some of the things I came across whilst researching were shocking! Google 'Juarez' and 'Maquiladoras' for more information.

The Mulleavy sisters must have come across some awful things. They decided to use this to create their collection for MAC. So we have products which to me seem to reflect the image of dripping blood. As I say, this is merely my opinion. You may think otherwise, but see what you think..

Alongside press pictures that, again in my opinion, reflect a woman looking ghostly, almost corpse like, next to a shadow of another woman which again, to me, looks as though she is dripping with blood.. Make your own minds up..

Rodarte for MAC

Complete this campaign with the eerily named products. How about 'Sleepwalker', 'Factory', 'Juarez', 'Ghost Town', 'Quinceanera' (which I understand as a coming of age party celebrated in Latin American countries - thanks to Big Fashionista for this info!), 'Badland' ..and those are just a few of the product names Ive picked up during my research. Tasteless right?

Okay so top marks for creativity, I get that what the girls saw then inspired them to create ths collection using the things they came across. And I really dont think they meant anything malliscious by this. But I think it is highly tasteless, extremely controversial and the fact that MAC cosmetics, supporting such campaigns as Aids, didnt pick up on the negativity this collection may cause is shocking!

Both parties have given statements regarding the back lash this has caused..

Official Statement from Rodarte

'Our makeup collection with MAC developed from inspirations on a road trip that we took in Texas last year, from El Paso to Marfa. The ethereal nature of this landscape influenced the creative development and desert palette of the collection. We are truly saddened about injustice in Juarez and it is a very important issue to us. The MAC collaboration was intended as a celebration of the beauty of the landscape and people of the areas that we travelled.'

Official Statement from MAC Cosmetics

'We understand that product names in the MAC Rodarte collection have offended some of our consumers and fans. This was never our intent and we are very sorry. We are listening carefully to the comments posted and are grateful to those of you who have bought your concerns to the forefront of our attention. MAC will give a portion of the proceeds from the MAC Rodarte collection to help those in need in Juarez. We are diligently investigating the best way to do this. Please be assured that we will keep you posted on the details regarding our efforts.'

Hmm. Controversial. So MAC are going to give a portion of the proceeds to those in need. I guess this could be seen as a good thing, it has raised awareness to what is going on out there. But in my opinion, it should never have taken a few complaints from offended consumers to make them sit up and realise the negativity this collection gives off. And for Rodarte to turn around and say that the collection was meant to celebrate the natural beauty of what they encountered?? Yes, and naming the products 'Sleepwalker' and 'Factory' and advertising it with a poster of a woman that looks half dead clearly does that! Ridiculous.


In my opinion, the least MAC could do is to change the product names before the collections release this Autumn. As I certainly wont be buying anything. Would you get any pleasure out of using a product with a name such as those given, knowing the story behind it?


Inspiration, images and research taken, with many thanks to the following..
Rodarte - Wikipedia
My Fashion Life
Style List
Big Fashionista
Temptalia


Please feel free to leave your views and comments on this issue, and link your own blog articles.


Lianne. X


UPDATE

MAC & Rodarte have released new statements this morning.

MAC say..
We understand that product names in the M·A·C Rodarte collection have offended our consumers and fans. This was never our intent and we are very sorry. We continue to listen carefully to the comments we have received and have the following plans to address concerns:

We are committed to donating $100,000 to a non-profit organization that has a proven, successful track-record helping women in need and that can directly improve the lives of women in Juarez in a meaningful way.
We are changing the product names in the M·A·C Rodarte collection.
As we have done in the past, please be assured that we will communicate details regarding our progress in this matter.

Rodarte say..
We recognize that the violence against women taking place in Juarez needs to be met with proactive action. We never intended to make light of this serious issue and we are truly sorry.

Helping to improve the conditions for women in Juarez is a priority for us and we are thankful for all the comments calling attention to the urgency of addressing this situation.

So what do you think?
I dont think this should ever have become an issue, but I am happy they will change the product names. But I dont know about you, I'll definately still shiver with disgust when I walk past this collection when it hits our MAC stores in a few months..

Lianne X