Zara was hit with a setback in the United Kingdom over its advertisement featuring “unhealthily thin” models.
According to The Journal, the UK advertising watchdog Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned two “socially irresponsible” adverts by the famous fashion brand Zara after receiving complaints.
The British regulators on Wednesday, August 6, said that one of the models in the ads that were listed on the Spanish clothing brand website in May appears “noticeably thin” and "gaunt" in the slicked-back bun hairstyle.
While another image showed a model with "protruding" collarbones, and the styling has made her appear “very slim.”
The authority said, “Overall, we considered that the pose of the model and the choice of clothing in the ad created the impression that the model was unhealthily thin,” adding, “For the above reasons, we concluded that the models… appeared unhealthily thin and that the ads were irresponsible.”
ASA also warned the brand that such adverts must not appear again and urged them to prepare ad images “responsibly.”
ZARA breaks silence on ASA decision:
A spokesperson for Zara UK asserted that they have removed the pictures from the website after ASA highlighted them, assuring their commitment to responsible content.
The company also said that they follow stringent guidelines and controls in photographing models and selecting images, and both of the models in question have a medical certificate that proves them healthy.
